Israel's Energy Minister Seeks Calm Amidst Desalination Plant Crisis
Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen is attempting to reassure the public regarding the ongoing water crisis, stating that "people should carry on as usual" and "use water wisely, nothing more than that." He emphasized Israel's water system resilience, citing its performance during the recent conflict. Currently, only the Hadera desalination plant is operating at full capacity, while Palmachim, Sorek A, and Sorek B are functioning partially. Ashdod is preparing for partial production.
Despite the minister's reassurances, the environmental group "Zulul" is urging the Water Authority to declare a water crisis and implement public conservation measures, including restrictions on garden watering and household water usage. Zulul also called on the Ministry of Finance and the Water Authority to introduce a tiered pricing system for high water consumption, arguing that the current situation, which necessitates increased pumping from the Sea of Galilee and groundwater, risks depleting these sources and potentially harming the environment and tourism.
Minister Cohen outlined potential technical solutions being explored, including drawing water further from the shore to avoid contaminated areas and treating water near the desalination plants. He mentioned that desalination companies might offer solutions, and Mekorot, the national water company, is planning a pipeline extension to draw water from cleaner zones. The cost of this pipeline extension is still under assessment.
Meanwhile, chemical spraying conducted over Ashkelon to combat the algae bloom that caused the crisis has proven ineffective. This operation faced criticism for being carried out without public or local authority notification. The Ministry of Agriculture subsequently issued a fishing ban, still in effect. The cost of using desalination membranes despite the contamination is estimated in the tens of millions of shekels.
In 2025, Israel's desalination plants produced significant amounts of water: Sorek A (160 million cubic meters), Hadera (142 million cubic meters), Ashkelon (123 million cubic meters), Palmachim (88 million cubic meters), Sorek B (79 million cubic meters, partially), and Ashdod (43 million cubic meters).
