Israel's Water Crisis Continues as Desalination Plants Operate Below Capacity

Four days into a severe water crisis, most of Israel's Mediterranean desalination plants remain offline or operating at reduced capacity, contradicting Energy Minister Eli Cohen's assurances of a swift resolution. As of Thursday afternoon, only the Hadera desalination facility is functioning normally, having operated continuously since the crisis began on Saturday. The Palmahim and Sorek 2 plants are currently running at half their normal output, while Sorek 1, Ashdod, and Ashkelon plants are completely shut down. Officials estimate the unusual bloom of micro-algae, originating from the Nile Delta in Egypt, has created a 100-kilometer-long and 7-kilometer-wide plume of turbid seawater affecting the desalination facilities.

The partial operation of Palmahim and Sorek 2 is a risk management measure to prevent damage to their filtration systems from the highly turbid water. These plants, designed to produce 18,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per hour, are currently supplying only half that amount. In response to the ongoing shortage, national water company Mekorot has quadrupled its pumping rate from the Sea of Galilee, drawing over a million cubic meters daily, despite the lake's level being below the red line. Mekorot is also utilizing approximately 1,000 wells and boreholes nationwide, reactivating dozens of older ones with Health Ministry approval for emergency use. During the night, when water consumption is lower, Mekorot is channeling large volumes into its reservoirs to bolster supply capabilities for all consumers, including agriculture in remote areas.