Jerusalem, 9 June, 2026 (TPS-IL) — This week, the government approved the Water Authority’s long-term goals in order to cope with population growth and climate change, and for the first time: the planning of large desalination facilities will also be possible by private entities. The target is two billion cubic meters of desalinated water per year by 2050.
This decision comes as a strategic response to the expected increase in water demand in Israel, alongside an expected ongoing reduction in the supply of natural water as a result of the effects of the climate crisis and accelerated urbanization processes.
The process of planning and constructing a desalination plant in Israel is complex and lengthy, and currently takes between seven and eight years from the moment the decision is made. In order to shorten processes and ensure immediate availability for implementation, the government decision sets desalination targets alongside “planning redundancy.”
“This government decision ensures that the > 🇮🇱🇦🇷”>State of Israel will continue to lead the global water industry, while combining forces between the public and private sectors, while at the same time ensuring the water security of Israeli citizens for decades to come,” said the Water Authority.