Increasing the flow into the Sea of Galilee – Against the backdrop of the war, and in order to utilize the excess water, the historic flow into the Sea of Galilee has begun.
The Water Authority and Mekorot are dramatically increasing the flow of desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee
Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen: “The flow of desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee is a truly historic move. After we have become global leaders in water technologies, and established the best desalination facilities, it is time to give back to the Sea of Galilee that we all love. In addition, this step will improve the water supply in the north and assist in the rehabilitation of streams and springs.”
Against the backdrop of the war, and in order to utilize the existing excess water during this period, the historic flow into the Sea of Galilee began today, which will safeguard Israel’s water future. The national water company Mekorot and the Water Authority began today (Tuesday) a large-scale flow of desalinated seawater into the Sea of Galilee, against the backdrop of climate change, low rainfall in the north, and the need to ensure long-term stability for the water economy.
The flow of desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee is being carried out through the “Reverse Conduit” system – one of the most innovative infrastructure projects implemented in Israel in the last decade, at a rate of approximately 4,000 cubic meters per hour. The new quantity is added to that which has already been flowing since December 2025 from the Ein Ravid area at a rate of approximately 1,000 cubic meters per hour, so that the cumulative water addition that will reach the lake by the beginning of summer will be approximately 5,000 cubic meters per hour.
The Reverse Conduit project is considered one of the most innovative of its kind in the world, with the ability to flow desalinated water into a natural water reservoir. The project was inaugurated about three years ago after an investment and development by Mekorot and its subsidiary Mekorot Shacham totaling approximately one billion shekels. However, apart from an initial system test, no large-scale operational use has been made of it to date. It should be noted that the water flow in the eastern part of the system is not directly into the lake, and the water is channeled to the Tsalmon Stream, which has become an ephemeral stream in recent years. Therefore, the operation of the project and the flow into the Tsalmon Stream also serves as a supporting measure for nature conservation.
Mekorot and the Water Authority recall that against the backdrop of changing climate conditions and high variability in rainfall amounts that have affected Israel in recent years, the Reverse Conduit proves itself as a strategic tool that allows Israel to manage its water economy proactively and not reactively – both maintaining the Sea of Galilee’s level as a national strategic reservoir for emergencies and as an active water source for agriculture and the region’s communities, and also meeting Israel’s international commitments, including supplying water to neighboring countries.
Acting CEO of Mekorot, Dani Sofer, notes that “The directive from Energy Minister Eli Cohen to operate the Reverse Conduit project gives operational and strategic significance to the move, which will allow for the maintenance of levels in the national lake. This preserves the Sea of Galilee’s status not only as a national symbol and a scenic and tourist attraction, but also as a central infrastructural anchor in Israel’s water security system.”
Director of the Water Authority, Yechiel Lipschitz, concluded that “We are beginning today a groundbreaking and unique move in the world, of flowing desalinated water to preserve a natural water source. The Sea of Galilee is our strategic national asset, and we are working to ensure its preservation. Increasing the flow of desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee is an important step in ensuring the water security of the State of Israel for years to come. The Water Authority, together with Mekorot, is constantly working to ensure that even during periods of low rainfall, northern farmers, residents of the region, and all water consumers will enjoy stability and continuity in supply.”
The Reverse Conduit Project – Data and Numbers:
• The project was established under Government Decision 3866, with work beginning in the summer of 2018.
• Original construction cost – approximately one billion shekels, about four years of work and construction by Mekorot and Mekorot Shacham.
• The first phase of the project, inaugurated about three years ago – a pipeline approximately 30 km long and about 64 inches in diameter (about 170 cm) from the Eshkol Reservoir to the Tsalmon Stream.
• Since then until today:
December 2022 – Initial flow for system testing.
December 2025 – Experimental flow at a rate of up to 1,000 cubic meters per hour from the Ein Ravid area.
March 2026 – Second operational flow at a rate of 4,000 cubic meters per hour, which will continue until the beginning of May. This will be added to the quantity flowing since the end of 2025 from Ein Ravid, so that a total of approximately 5,000 cubic meters per hour will be flowed into the Sea of Galilee.