Desalination Plants Shut Down Again Amidst Severe Weather, Farmers Warn of Irreversible Damage

Israel's desalination plants were shut down again on Tuesday morning, following a similar shutdown the previous day. The Water Authority and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure stated that the closures were caused by a rise in seawater turbidity due to unusual weather conditions, which clogged the filters. While domestic water supply will continue, the authority noted that operations in areas with specific issues would be reduced and managed by the Water Authority's operations center. Public gardening and agricultural activities, along with general public water usage, are to be curtailed.

The Farmers' Association expressed severe concern over the impact on agriculture, particularly during the growing season. In an urgent letter to the Finance, Agriculture, and Energy ministers, the association's leaders, Amit Yifrach and Orr Dorman, warned that the immediate halt in water supply to agriculture in the Shfela, Judean Hills, South, and Negev regions poses a grave threat to Israel's food security. They highlighted that many crops, especially vegetables and fruits nearing harvest, face irreversible damage, jeopardizing hundreds of family farms and their livelihoods.

The association is demanding immediate government intervention to reduce water supply disruptions, assess and document damages, and establish a dedicated compensation plan for affected farmers. Yifrach and Dorman emphasized that Israel cannot critically harm its agricultural sector and food security, leaving farmers to face the crisis alone, especially as they continue to produce food for the nation even in emergencies. They called for an urgent meeting of all relevant parties to make operational decisions and provide immediate solutions for the farmers.