Israel's Water Chief Brings AI to Desert Infrastructure

When you turn on a tap in Israel, artificial intelligence and cloud computing help deliver that water just as much as pipes and pumps do.

Shira Singer, Head of Digital Customer Experience at Mekorot, Israel's national water company, is leading a technological transformation in one of the world's most water-stressed regions. She'll share her insights at the upcoming Women Leaders Summit 2026 in Jerusalem.

Her challenge is unique: modernizing infrastructure that people depend on every single day, where failure isn't an option. "There's zero tolerance for a situation where there's no water in the tap," Singer explains.

Mekorot operates across Israel's semi-arid landscape, managing water infrastructure for millions of people. The company runs dozens of technological projects every year, integrating AI, cloud systems, and fiber optics into every stage of water delivery.

But technology only works if people can actually use it. Singer's team spans from engineers to field technicians, each needing different tools and interfaces.

"In the past, you could release a system and say, 'Figure it out,'" she says. "Today, we have teams that support our workers, guide them, and make sure the technology actually works for them."

This human-centered approach extends to farmers in remote fields who need accurate billing and reliable water access. Singer's division designs every system with real users in mind, from company employees to end customers.

The Ripple Effect

Singer's work reaches far beyond Israel's borders. The country has become a global leader in water management through innovation born from necessity.

Her focus on making advanced technology accessible in a traditionally conservative industry offers a blueprint for other infrastructure sectors worldwide. As climate change intensifies water scarcity globally, the systems Mekorot develops today could help communities everywhere manage this precious resource more efficiently.

Singer also brings a perspective still rare in infrastructure: a woman's voice in a male-dominated field. "Women provide the essential vision that breathes humanity into technology, ensuring our progress is measured not just in data points, but in the lives we empower," she notes.

Her three-pillar approach of design, adoption, and change management has helped Mekorot make what she calls "a very significant leap forward" while maintaining the reliability people count on.

Every technological upgrade must protect critical national infrastructure while serving everyone from tech-savvy engineers to farmers who just need water to flow when they need it. Singer's team has proven that even the most essential, traditional services can embrace cutting-edge innovation without compromising reliability.