Samaria sewage network linked to Greater Tel Aviv treatment plant for first time

A major infrastructure and environmental project was launched Thursday morning, connecting the main sewage line of the Gush Dan metropolitan area to the Samaria region for the first time. The ceremony marked the historic hookup of central and western Samaria communities to the Gush Dan sewage treatment facility, known as Shafdan.

The event was attended by Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, Water Authority chief Hazi Lipshitz, Energy Ministry director general Yossi Dayan, deputy director general Yariv Gessar, local council chairmen and technical staff. The project is estimated at about 136 million shekels and is being led by the Energy Ministry, the Water Authority and the Samaria Regional Council.

The first communities connected were Peduel, Bruchin, Ali Zahav and Leshem. In several weeks, the system is expected to be extended to Brakan, Revava, Kiryat Netafim, the Brakan industrial zone and the Gush Kanaf area. Officials said the link should substantially improve quality of life and the environment, and will ultimately shut the wastewater treatment plant in the Brakan industrial zone while moving sewage processing to the national system serving central Israel.

Dagan said the project has been promoted for years and that its principles were agreed with the Water Authority about eight years ago, with progress accelerating in recent months through joint staff work. Cohen said, “We continue to advance sovereignty in practice,” adding that the sewage connection is an important step toward one million residents in Judea and Samaria. Dagan called the project a “revolution” that will serve tens of thousands of residents and replace outdated infrastructure.