Decade-Old Warning Ignored on Gaza Sewage Threatening Israel's Desalination Plants

Israel's desalination plants are gradually returning to operation after a significant disruption, though many remain offline. A report from the National Institute of Oceanography, Oceanographic and Limnological Research, published nearly a decade ago in 2017, had warned of pollution from the Gaza Strip that could damage these facilities. The report accurately predicted the mechanism behind the current water crisis: pollution originating from Gaza impacting the plants that supply approximately 75% of Israel's drinking water.

The Ministry of Energy stated on Thursday that the water sector is operating normally, with an additional desalination plant, Sorek A, resuming operations. Water supply for households and agriculture continues as usual, according to Energy Minister Eli Cohen. However, the Water Authority reported earlier that the Ashkelon and Ashdod desalination plants are still shut down, while Sorek B and Palmahim are operating at partial capacity, and Sorek A is working intermittently.

In an effort to resolve water turbidity issues, the National Emergency Management Authority has deployed a tugboat to assist in restarting the Ashkelon plant. The experiment involves agitating the seawater near the intake pipe to facilitate water flow. The environmental organization Clean Sea has appealed to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) to allow sewage tankers from Gaza to utilize a treatment facility under IDF control, instead of discharging waste into the sea. Dr. Yuval Arbel of Clean Sea noted that previous similar requests, including one from the organization EcoPeace Middle East in November 2025, were ignored by the government.

EcoPeace confirmed they had alerted the government and the US command in Kiryat Gat about the urgent need to address sewage and sanitation in Gaza, stating that Israeli ministers disregarded the warning despite pollution not recognizing borders. The 2017 report by the National Institute of Oceanography had analyzed water samples near the Ashkelon plant, located just 4.5 km from Gaza's sewage discharge points, finding measurable bacterial contamination. Satellite imagery documented plumes of organic matter moving north from Gaza. Researchers predicted the problem would worsen with Gaza's growing population.

Arbel explained that the sewage acts as a fertilizer for algae blooms, providing organic material that allows them to grow even without sunlight, intensifying the blooms. He added that during the recent war, sewage flow from Gaza was minimal due to infrastructure failures. However, as water infrastructure in Gaza is being restored, sewage is again being discharged into the sea. A recent storm along Israel's coast may have also stirred up organic matter from the seabed, further fueling the algae blooms. Galit Cohen, a senior researcher at INSS, emphasized that addressing the situation in Gaza is primarily for Israel's benefit.