Israel Approves $80 Million Water Infrastructure Project for Tel Aviv's New Shikun Neighborhoods
Following the discovery that the planned large-scale residential neighborhoods around Tel Aviv's former Sde Dov airport cannot be supplied with water through existing infrastructure, Israel's national water company Mekorot and the water and sewage corporation Mei Avivim have approved a new water pipeline project. The fifth water transmission line to Tel Aviv, estimated to cost around 80 million shekels, aims to address the urgent need for water supply to support the construction of approximately 40,000 housing units expected to house about 100,000 residents in northern Tel Aviv.
The new pipeline, named the "Pi Gililot Line," will be 60 inches (about 1.5 meters) in diameter and extend over seven kilometers. It will connect south of Highway 5 to the national water system, crossing major transportation arteries including Highways 20 and 2. The project is designed to ensure continuous water supply and structural redundancy, delivering tens of thousands of cubic meters of water daily to meet the rapid development and demand in the northern part of the city, especially in the Sde Dov district and surrounding new neighborhoods.
Mekorot's acting CEO, Danny Sofer, and Mei Avivim's CEO, Ruska Nikolaev, have instructed their teams to overcome planning and regulatory obstacles to complete the project and make it operational by the end of the decade. Both companies emphasize that without this water connection, housing development cannot proceed. The collaboration between the national and municipal water entities is seen as a national and municipal force multiplier, enabling advanced engineering and technological solutions to maintain Tel Aviv's leadership in infrastructure quality and innovation.
Moshe Shimoni, chairman of Mekorot's board, highlighted that the new connection will integrate national water capabilities with local needs, allowing for a reliable and advanced water system for years to come. Abraham Manela, chairman of Mei Avivim, stressed that the partnership ensures continuous functional standards and infrastructure quality for the benefit of residents and businesses in Tel Aviv-Jaffa.
