Israel's Desalination Plants Offline Amid Water Crisis, Experts Warn of Future Shocks

Three of Israel's major desalination plants in Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Sorek A remain offline due to water turbidity, likely caused by algae originating from Egypt. While Sorek A briefly resumed operations, it was shut down again. The Palmachim and Sorek B plants, along with those in Hadera and Eilat, are functioning, as they were unaffected by the algae bloom. The disruptions have led authorities to call for reduced public gardening and other non-essential water usage, though household supply has not been impacted. Water supply to farmers in the south was restored on Wednesday.

Water sector officials expressed surprise at the severity of the event, stating there was no prior warning and criticizing current management practices. They advocate for maximizing desalination output and using natural water sources like aquifers and the Sea of Galilee as emergency reserves, only to be tapped during crises. "Desalination plants should always operate at maximum capacity," one official stated, emphasizing that Israel should purchase all water its plants can produce.

A study by Ben-Gurion University's Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research highlights the vulnerability of Israel's centralized water system, which relies heavily on a few desalination plants dependent on electricity. Researchers warn that a single point of failure, such as a power outage, cyberattack, or even a missile strike, could cripple the entire system. Dr. Natalie De-Palo, a lead researcher, noted that while the system proved resilient during this specific event, "If we put 85% of our drinking water in the hands of five desalination plants, and each one only works if water is pumped from the sea, then there is vulnerability."

The study developed a model for various emergency scenarios, including drought, power disruptions, war, and cyberattacks, projecting potential water supply reductions of up to 60%. The researchers suggest that complex, overlapping crises, such as a combination of drought, war, and other threats, pose the most significant risk. Dr. De-Palo plans further research on desalination plants in Gulf states and advocates for international conventions to protect these facilities, alongside the development of smaller, decentralized plants utilizing solar energy.

Experts see the current crisis as an opportunity to learn and adapt, particularly in light of climate change, which is expected to increase the frequency of such events. Suggestions include building larger water reserves, potentially for months rather than days, and adjusting seawater intake points to deeper locations, away from surface algae blooms. The impact of these water challenges is also felt by neighboring countries, including Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and the Gaza Strip.