Nicosia water authority signs cooperation deal with Israel’s Mekorot

Economy cyprusIsraelTop Newswater Nicosia water authority signs cooperation deal with Israel’s Mekorot Nero Agogos Id 852586 Relevant News Iran demands inbound control of Hormuz and outbound oversight, source says 4 August 2026 Nicosia water authority signs cooperation deal with Israel’s Mekorot 4 August 2026 Teenager dies from injuries after Limassol motorcycle crash 4 August 2026 newsroom 4 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The Nicosia District Local Government Organisation (DLGO) and Israel’s National Water Company, Mekorot, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Tuesday to exchange expertise and best practices in sustainable water resource management. Cutting unbilled water further is among the Nicosia authority’s key goals for the partnership. Konstantinos Giorkatzis, President of the Nicosia DLGO, signed the memorandum on behalf of the organisation, while Barak Gruber, CEO of Mekorot Development & Enterprise, signed for the Israeli company. Israel’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, attended the ceremony along with officials from both organisations and representatives of relevant Republic of Cyprus services. In his address, Giorkatzis said the cooperation brings together two organisations operating in environments with limited water resources that share the same mission: sustainable, efficient and innovative water resource management. He pointed to Mekorot’s long experience and international expertise in desalination, water reuse, smart water networks and advanced water technologies. Climate change knows no borders, he said, and affects water adequacy and shortages in a similar, if not identical, way across the region. Protecting water resources, he added, is “a common responsibility for all countries in our region.” He noted that the Nicosia DLGO continues to invest in modern infrastructure, digital transformation and innovation to ensure reliable, high-quality and sustainable water supply services for citizens. Through the cooperation, he said, the two organisations will exchange knowledge, experience and know-how, creating a platform for best practices that he hopes will lead to even better services for citizens. Gruber echoed the shared-challenge theme, saying the two countries share not only the same climate but also the responsibility of securing water supply for the residents of Cyprus and Israel, as well as the Mediterranean’s water resources, creating a distinct framework for cooperation in water management. He added that the experience Mekorot has built up over the past 90 years, along with its best practices, advanced engineering knowledge and specialised workforce, will support the cooperation as the two sides work to meet their shared responsibility. Anolik said cooperation between Israel and Cyprus continues to strengthen across many sectors, with water an area where cooperation can meaningfully improve citizens’ daily lives, given that both countries sit in a region where water scarcity is one of the biggest challenges. “This is not only an environmental challenge. It is also an economic and strategic challenge,” he said, adding that Israel has developed what he called “unique” expertise over time in water management, making use of every drop of water, experience he said is particularly useful for Cyprus’s needs. He noted that Mekorot’s expertise is already known in Cyprus, as the company contributed to major projects including the desalination plants in Larnaca and Limassol, which he said strengthened the country’s water security. Today’s agreement, he added, builds on that successful cooperation and opens the way for new opportunities. Iliana Tofa, Director of the Water Development Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, said she was pleased about the cooperation launched through the memorandum. The Water Development Department has worked with Mekorot since 2015 on desalination projects, she recalled, noting that the initial period was particularly difficult and that the company offered every possible support. Asked about the benefits Cyprus is expected to gain from the memorandum, Giorkatzis said it represents an initial framework agreement and that the two sides will begin exchanging views to decide which issues and problems to focus on. Because it involves an exchange of information, he added, “we too may be able to help with certain issues.” Reducing unbilled water and leaks is a priority, he said, noting that in the Nicosia province, unbilled water is estimated at 19-20%, the lowest of any province in Cyprus by a wide margin and below the European Union average. Because the bar has been set very high, he said, reducing that figure further is one of the main goals for which the organisation will want Mekorot’s help. The second priority, he said, is managing the sewage system and potential problems during flood periods. Gruber said the signing of the memorandum marks the starting point of cooperation between the two organisations, with the two sides working together to identify key challenges, set priorities and develop appropriate solutions through an integrated and holistic approach. (Information from Cyprus News Agency) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Iran demands inbound control of Hormuz and outbound oversight, source says Teenager dies from injuries after Limassol motorcycle crash 4.3 magnitude earthquake strikes Tuscany, Italy near Pisa The EU health data space: Unlocking the value of e-health data through responsible governance Don’t disturb RIK, it’s on holiday Customs collects almost €2m from small parcel tariff in first month State unveils new support options for adults with disabilities Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.