Uzbek delegation explores Israel’s advanced water technologies

**Uzbek delegation examines Israel’s advanced water technologies**

From 6 to 10 September 2026, at the initiative of the Embassy of the State of Israel in the Republic of Uzbekistan, a group of Uzbek specialists in water resource management and water conservation visited Israel as part of an exchange programme devoted to modern approaches to water resource management, water-saving technologies and innovative solutions.

The delegation included government officials, water management specialists, researchers, and experts in irrigation and agriculture from Uzbekistan, representing public authorities, research institutions and professional organizations active in water resource management and irrigation.

The programme gave participants the chance to study Israel’s water management system at several levels. The delegation visited the Israel Hydrological Service, where participants learned about water monitoring and quality control, groundwater management and cooperation among different institutions in the water sector. During visits to Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, and Gihon, Jerusalem’s water and wastewater utility, the participants examined modern approaches to managing urban water infrastructure, reducing water losses, water accounting and ensuring a reliable water supply. Special emphasis was placed on wastewater treatment and reuse, including its use in agriculture, irrigation of green areas and technical purposes.

A significant part of the programme was devoted to the practical use of water technologies in agriculture. During a visit to Kibbutz Magal, an agricultural community in central Israel, the participants saw how water scarcity has driven the development of efficient irrigation technologies and new approaches to agricultural production. Another visit, to Kinneret Academic College on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel, focused on the link between academic education, research and practical solutions in the water sector. Participants learned about the college’s work in water and environmental fields, including water and wastewater treatment, desalination, water quality, hydrology and sustainability. Particular attention was paid to the college’s practical approach, which combines modern laboratories, computer modelling, engineering simulations and field research, as well as cooperation with companies in the water industry. The visit underscored the importance of linking academic knowledge, research and practical experience in developing innovative solutions for the water sector.

“Thanks to this study visit to Israel, facilitated by the Embassy of the State of Israel in Uzbekistan, I had the opportunity to see firsthand the advanced technologies that ensure the country’s water security despite its limited freshwater resources. Most importantly, I was able to compare the situation today with what I saw in Israel 30 years ago and witness the progress achieved, as well as Israel’s long-term vision for ensuring its water security over the next 20–40 years” - said Vadim Sokolov, a water-sector expert from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The experience gained is highly relevant to Uzbekistan, where effective water resource management is of strategic importance. Areas that could benefit from further development in Uzbekistan include digital water monitoring and accurate water accounting, reducing losses in water infrastructure, modern irrigation methods, more efficient groundwater management, and wastewater treatment and reuse. One of the main lessons from the visit was that addressing water challenges requires more than a single technology. It requires an integrated approach that combines infrastructure, scientific knowledge, reliable data, innovation and professional capacity-building.

The visit offered a valuable platform for professional exchange between specialists from Uzbekistan and Israel and contributed to further cooperation in sustainable water resource management, water conservation and modern water technologies.