Britannica Sources used in this answer

How has Israel used water from the Jordan River for its water-supply system?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Arid, rugged hills and winding roads in the Jordan Rift Valley, with the Jordan River and a small reservoir visible in the distance. — Jordan River Portion of the Jordan Valley, a rift valley that runs north-south along the Jordan River.

Israel utilizes the Jordan River as a critical component of its national water-supply system to address chronic water shortages. Since the 1960s, Israel has operated the National Water Carrier (also known as the Kinneret-Negev Conduit), which pumps water from the Sea of Galilee—the river's primary reservoir—to the country's densely populated coastal regions and the Negev desert.123

The infrastructure involves a complex series of pumping stations and pipes that lift water from the lake to higher elevations, allowing it to be transported across the country for both household and industrial use, as well as for irrigation. Additionally, Israel has constructed a canal system from the Sea of Galilee to the Bet She'an region to support agricultural needs.23

This extensive diversion of water, alongside similar efforts by Jordan, has significantly reduced the flow of the Jordan River into the Dead Sea, contributing to a substantial decline in the sea's water level since the 1960s. Consequently, both nations have engaged in discussions regarding water conservation and potential projects to restore flow to the region.345