Algal Bloom Shuts Down Israel's Desalination Plants

Israel's critical water desalination infrastructure faced an unprecedented crisis as a massive bloom of microscopic algae choked intake pipes, forcing the shutdown of nearly all major plants. While the country had prepared for war-related threats like missile strikes, cyberattacks, and even earthquakes, an extreme climatic event proved to be the most disruptive.

The crisis began on Saturday at the Ashkelon desalination plant, the southernmost facility, when monitoring equipment detected unusually high turbidity in the seawater. The plant was immediately shut down, followed by the Ashdod plant. Initially, the Water Authority did not report the incident, expecting a swift return to normal operations.

However, the algal bloom, driven by a powerful current, moved northward, overwhelming the three major desalination plants in Sorek and Palmahim by Sunday and Monday. Fortunately, the bloom's spread dissipated before reaching the northernmost plant in Hadera, which continued to operate at full capacity, even around the clock, to compensate for the shortfall. The government prioritized water supply over electricity costs, acknowledging the significant financial implications of the extended operation.

Experts are investigating the exact cause of the bloom, with theories including a massive influx of algae from the Nile Delta, potentially exacerbated by sewage from Gaza. The latter is a concern raised by environmental groups, who warned that the collapse of sewage systems in Gaza could impact Israel's coast. Another possibility is a strong southwest current caused by a recent storm, which may have stirred up the seabed and contributed to the bloom.

While two plants partially resumed operations by Tuesday evening, providing some relief, the situation remains precarious. One plant in Sorek was shut down again on Wednesday morning as the algae persisted. The event highlights a vulnerability in Israel's water security, demonstrating that natural phenomena can pose a more significant strategic threat than anticipated man-made ones. Farmers in the Negev region, heavily reliant on desalinated water, are facing severe losses, drawing parallels to the early days of rocket attacks on southern communities.