Water Supply Disruptions Continue Across Israel Due to Sea Turbidity

Widespread disruptions to Israel's water supply are ongoing after a significant increase in sea water turbidity led to the shutdown of most of the country's desalination facilities on Tuesday. The problem, which began Monday, is attributed to micro-algae likely drifting from the Nile Delta region in Egypt. Five out of six major desalination plants were affected, with some resuming partial operations only to be shut down again. This has prompted local authorities to instruct residents to conserve water and utilize emergency reserves, while farmers have been ordered to halt irrigation.

Water Authority and Ministry of Energy officials stated that while the issue is localized, operational capacity at affected sites has been reduced. Public gardening and non-essential public water uses are being curtailed. Importantly, the Water Authority clarified that domestic water supply to homes remains uninterrupted, and the situation is not a cyberattack as rumored.

Farmers are demanding compensation for damages incurred due to the water supply interruptions during the crucial growing season. The Farmers' Association has appealed to the Finance, Energy, and Agriculture ministers, warning that the halt in irrigation could cause irreversible damage to crops and significant financial losses, particularly for family farms. They are requesting immediate damage assessment and financial compensation.

The disruptions have been felt in various parts of the country, including Jerusalem and the Gush Dan region. Several Jerusalem neighborhoods experienced water outages, leading the Gihon water corporation to set up public water taps in affected areas as a temporary measure.