Israel's Desalination Crisis Continues: One Plant Fully Operational Amidst Algae Bloom
Nine days into a severe crisis affecting Israel's water desalination capabilities, only the Hadera plant is operating at full capacity. The Ashkelon and Ashdod facilities remain completely shut down due to high turbidity in seawater, while the Palmachim, Sorek A, and Sorek B plants are functioning partially. Efforts to mitigate the problem, including a trial dispersal of copper-containing compounds by crop dusters off the coast of Ashkelon to dissolve the algae, have proven unsuccessful.
"We are not seeing a significant change in turbidity levels," stated Energy Minister Eli Cohen. The head of the Water Authority, Hazi Lifshitz, confirmed the aerial dispersal was approved by an inter-ministerial committee, including representatives from the Health and Environmental Protection ministries, and asserted the materials used were non-toxic. The Water Authority is now exploring extending the intake pipes of the desalination plants further offshore to avoid high concentrations of algae, a solution previously mentioned by the Director General of the Energy Ministry.
Professional teams are also studying global methods for dealing with similar algal bloom issues. Minister Cohen dismissed any connection between the bloom and sewage discharge from Gaza, attributing the algae's origin to the Nile River and tracking its movement via satellite imagery. The partial operation of some plants is a measure to minimize damage to their filtration systems and maintain redundancy.
In parallel, the Energy Ministry and Water Authority will fund the purchase of new membranes for the desalination plants, an investment in the tens of millions of shekels. These membranes typically last seven years but can become blocked within a year if contaminated. Mekorot, the national water company, has increased pumping from the Sea of Galilee and approximately 1,000 groundwater wells across the country to compensate.
Minister Cohen reiterated that water supply to the public and agriculture remains secure, emphasizing the resilience and decentralization of Israel's water infrastructure. He stated that while full desalination capacity is not currently needed, the capability exists. Regarding water supply to Jordan, Cohen affirmed Israel's commitment to honoring its agreements but could not estimate the duration of the current crisis.
