Israel Faces Potential Water Shortage Amid Desalination Plant Shutdown

Israel's water system is under strain as most desalination plants remain offline for a third day due to an unprecedented algal bloom in the Mediterranean Sea. A senior official from the Water Authority, Dani Laker, admitted in a closed-door meeting that the duration of the algal bloom is unknown and warned of a prolonged water shortage that will necessitate difficult decisions.

"Shikma 1, which is the largest contributor to the system, will be offline around 3 AM, so we are currently operating with the equivalent of roughly one plant," Laker stated, adding that the situation has persisted for over 12 hours. He expressed uncertainty about the algae, describing it as an unknown species not seen in Israel for at least 30 years, and noted that initial expectations of the algae sinking or flowing away have not materialized.

"I hope this thing disappears from our lives, but there is a not-unreasonable scenario that says we will be dragged along with this event for a period," Laker added. He anticipates a long-term demand management strategy, akin to an emergency configuration where decisions are made every few hours, balancing regular supply with disruptions. Another participant in the meeting voiced concerns about public trust, stating, "I feel like no one believes us or anyone anymore. I think the Water Authority needs to convene and release something clearer to the public, the transparency is completely lacking."

Oded Lerner, head of the Central District at Mekorot (Israel's national water company), explained that the shutdown of desalination plants has caused significant pressure drops in main water lines, affecting communities that lack booster pumps. He warned that this could happen in other communities as well. Satellite imagery revealed the pollution was present in Israel a week ago and did not drift away over the weekend.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated that despite the "unusual natural phenomenon," the water economy is proving its resilience. He credited "hard work" for restoring water supply to agriculture and maintaining household supply, thanking the employees of the Water Authority, Mekorot, and the Ministry of Energy. However, the ministry also noted that the supply of fresh water for agriculture and public gardening has not yet resumed, with efforts underway to bring more facilities online depending on water quality improvements.

In response to the crisis, five out of six private desalination plants were shut down on Wednesday due to increased turbidity in seawater. The Water Authority and Ministry of Energy instructed local authorities to reduce public gardening and agricultural activities, as well as other public water uses. The Water Authority clarified that household supply would continue, with localized issues being addressed by the control center. The Ministry of Energy aims to bring additional facilities online by Thursday, contingent on water quality changes. News 13 previously reported that the Water Authority was considering operating a desalination plant against regulations, despite low water quality, due to fears of a shortage, with one official suggesting a "calculated risk" might be taken.