Leading projects in the year 2021
The Kidron Project
For years, some of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Authority sewage water flowed into the Kidron stream and caused a serious environmental hazard in the Judean desert. About 40,000 cubic meters of raw sewage are currently discharged into the stream from Jerusalem and the surrounding settlements. Over the years, along the stream, debris and garbage were accumulated, and now it is covering part of the existing sewage infrastructure.
Hagihon’s company with the Water Authority, the Coordinator of Government Operations in the West Bank, the Jerusalem Municipality, JWPE, the Civil Administration and the Prime Minister’s Office led to the decision of implementing this important project that will greatly increase environmental, social and economic welfare in Jerusalem, Judean desert and the Dead Sea.
In 2020, the cornerstone was laid for a green project of national size – the Kidron stream restoration project. This is a plan worth more than NIS 800 million. As part of the project, the sewage flow to the stream will be stopped and a collection line will be laid. This line will drain the sewage for several kilometers, including the Palestinian Authority’s sewage through an eight-kilometer pipe to Og purification facility.
In order to avoid damage to nature, to Marsaba Monastery and other archeological sites, the route of the sewage collection line was diverted from the stream, and an infrastructure tunnel was built at a depth of about 60 meters, with a width of about six meters and a length of 1.3 kilometers. The project also includes the construction of a hydroelectric station that will generate green electricity.
The purified water will be used for agriculture and irrigation of palm groves in the Dead Sea area, in the Jordan Valley and in the Palestinian Authority. This will turn the severe nuisance into a valuable resource, to water that serves as a source of life for the Israeli and Palestinian residents in the northern Dead Sea area and the Jordan valley.
The Kidron stream rehabilitation program will make it an environmental, heritage and tourism resource. The route of the stream passes through a sequence of ecological textures and unique landscapes – from a Mediterranean climate area to a unique desert area that is breathtaking in its beauty.
Video is attached.
The 5th water line to Jerusalem
Due to the continuous increase in the population of Jerusalem and its surroundings, and the increase in water consumption, the water supply systems are approaching the limit, which is expected to occur in the coming years. To prevent water shortages in the area, Mekorot company designed another water line piping to Jerusalem with a diameter of 100″ – the “fifth line”. It is a national infrastructure project of great importance to Jerusalem, the surrounding settlements and the Palestinian Authority (in accordance with political agreements).
The 5th line is expected to provide a full solution for Jerusalem and the surrounding area by 2065. In this year, consumption in the area is expected to rise to 1.65 million cubic meters of water per day, compared with current consumption of about 340,000 cubic meters per day.
Below is a link to a video made by Mekorot company:
As part of the work on the 5th line, Hagihon company is getting ready to integrate into this important project and to establish:
Water reservoir at Sacher park
Establishment of an indoor reservoir with a volume of 25,000 cubic meters, for the purpose of storage and regulation of the amounts of water that will come from the 5th line. A sports field will be built above the reservoir for the benefit of the community.
Due to the distance between the city and its water sources, Hagihon company is building a water collection system that will prevent water stoppage and water shortage during malfunctions in the city’s water supply system. In addition, the mountainous topography of Jerusalem dictates the need to pump water to the high areas of the city and break the pressure to the lower areas. Pumping stations and pressure reduction stations are therefore being installed, as needed, in the new neighborhoods.
Water line layout at Emek Hatemanim
As part of the project of the fifth line to Jerusalem, which is currently being carried out by Mekorot company, Hagihon is required to build a main transmission line at Emek Hatemanim with a length of about 3 km and with a diameter of 60″ from Ein Kerem connection to Herzl. In order not to harm the surrounding nature and the landscape, the laying of the pipe will be done with tunneling technology. It is planned for the years 2020 – 2021 and has an estimate cost of approximately NIS 40 million.
Integration with the enormous development projects in the city of Jerusalem
The city of Jerusalem is undergoing accelerated development, and Hagihon company is involved in the main development works:
- Development of new infrastructure – the light rail.
- Development of new infrastructure – the railway project at the entrance to the city.
- For additional projects, see Water and Sewage Investments.
