Water Supply Restored to Farmers Amid Concerns Over Desalination Plant Vulnerability

Israel has resumed water supply to farmers in the southern region following a temporary shutdown of its desalination facilities, which was caused by a severe algae bloom threatening the plants. The incident has raised serious questions about Israel's preparedness for extreme water scarcity scenarios and the vulnerability of its critical infrastructure.

Galit Cohen, former Director-General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and a senior researcher at INSS, warned that Israel's water systems are exposed and at risk. She highlighted that 80% of the country's urban water consumption relies on desalination, underscoring the deep dependence on these facilities. Cohen suggested that sewage pollution from Gaza may have exacerbated the algae bloom, intensifying its impact on the desalination plants. She emphasized the need to address the pollution originating from Gaza for Israel's own benefit.

Cohen outlined potential measures to mitigate such crises before impacting household water supply, including prioritizing agricultural water cuts and reducing urban consumption by limiting irrigation of lawns and gardens. The Water Authority is exploring solutions for areas heavily reliant on desalination, such as opening previously closed local boreholes as a backup.

The environmental organization "Adam Teva V'Din" also criticized the heavy reliance on desalination, arguing that while billions are invested in physical and cyber security for the plants, critical threats like marine pollution are overlooked. The organization urged the government to approve and fund a master plan for rehabilitating groundwater and wells, many of which are being closed due to pollution without adequate remediation efforts.

Satellite imagery confirmed a significant algae bloom extending from Gaza's coast northward. While the Shiqmona 1 desalination plant remains offline, Palmachim and Shiqmona 2 are operating at half capacity, and Hadera is functioning normally. The Water Authority assured that drinking water supplies are not endangered.