Israel Sprays Chemicals to Combat Algae Bloom Affecting Desalination Plants

Israel's Water Authority deployed an aircraft to spray chemicals over a massive algae bloom off the coast of Ashkelon, an effort to halt the proliferation that has idled desalination plants for four days. A "Chem-Nir" company plane dispersed a mixture of copper sulfate, aluminum sulfate, and sodium percarbonate along a nine-kilometer stretch, approximately one kilometer offshore.

In response, the Ministry of Health advised a ban on fishing within the spray zone and a one-kilometer buffer area. The Ministry of Agriculture imposed a formal, month-long prohibition on fishing from Ashkelon to the Gaza border, extending up to 10 kilometers from the shore. The chemical treatment aims to kill the algae, which reportedly arrived from Egypt, using copper sulfate and sodium percarbonate. Aluminum sulfate is intended to clump smaller particles for easier filtration.

Concerns exist regarding the toxicity of copper sulfate to marine life, potentially rendering fish unsafe for consumption. While the Ministry of Environmental Protection asserts the chemical mixture poses no threat to humans or larger animals, authorities are exercising caution. This is partly because the exact species of algae remains unidentified, with experts citing potential risks from species like Microcystis and Cylindrospermopsis, known to produce toxins harmful to the liver and other organs.

Laboratory analyses are underway to determine the specific algae type. If found to be non-toxic, the fishing ban may be partially lifted. The effectiveness of the treatment against the bloom, which is spreading north and threatening the Hadera desalination plant, remains uncertain. The operation has already drawn public scrutiny, with reports of insufficient public warning and skepticism regarding the safety of the chemicals, despite official assurances.