Water Resources Management - Institutions

The following are the principal institutions that oversee and manage the Israeli water sector.

The Minister of National Infrastructures is the Cabinet member responsible to the Parliament (the "Knesset") for the management of the water resources of the country, the proposal of a national water policy for Cabinet approval and its subsequent implementation, as well as for Israel’s external water relations.

Since the management, protection and allocation of water resources are impacted by or impact the spheres of activities of other Ministries, the exercise of certain powers having a bearing on the management of water resources require the consent more than one ministry. The principal Ministries that fall into that category are the Ministries of Agriculture (agricultural allocations and pricing), Environmental Protection (water quality standards), Health (drinking water quality), Finance (tariffs and investments) and the Interior (urban water supply). Following the 2006 amendment to the Water Law many of their responsibilities with respect to the water sector were transferred to the Council of the Governmental Authority of Water and Sewerage (the “Authority”).

The Director of the Authority (formerly the “Water Commissioner”) is a cabinet appointed civil servant reporting to the Minister of National Infrastructure and to the Knesset and is responsible for the implementation of the national water policy as well as for specific functions pursuant to the Water Law and other water related legislation.

The Council of the Authority is an interagency body, headed by the Director of the Authority, and composed of senior representatives of the Ministries of Finance, National Infrastructures, Environmental Protection and Interior. The Council guides and oversees the operations of the Authority and can, as an interagency body, take into account all of the interests that have a bearing on water resources management.

The Water Board is a public board composed of representatives of the Government and the public (producers, suppliers and consumers), whose consent/advise must be obtained for various measures taken by the Council of the Authority and the Director of the Authority in the implementation of water legislation. The Water Board is an institutionalized forum of public participation.

The National Water Authority or “Mekorot” is a corporate entity owned, and controlled by the Government, whose main statutory functions are to establish and manage the National Water System (also known as the National Water Carrier) and to supply water therefrom. Mekorot is Israel’s bulk water supplier.

Regional Water Authorities are entities that operate regional water systems for the production and supply of water on a regional basis. Mekorot, the National Water Authority, serves in some cases also as a Regional Water Authority. A Regional Water Authority does not have to be owned or controlled by the Government and may be owned either privately or by municipalities.

The description of Israel’s water legislation is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legally binding version or interpretation thereof.