Water Authority Accused of Hiding Failed Algae Experiment, Risks

Israel's Water Authority is facing criticism for allegedly concealing the failure of a recent experiment involving the use of chemicals to combat algae blooms that disrupted desalination plants. The experiment, which involved dumping large quantities of pesticides into the sea near Ashkelon, was conducted over a month ago without public notification. Reports indicate the trial not only failed to eliminate the algae but also posed risks that were not disclosed to the public in real-time.

The governmental committee for waste disposal discussed the findings and expressed serious concerns. While the Water Authority claimed there was no danger to the sea, the committee was presented with a starkly different picture. Consequently, the committee recommended an immediate ban on fishing in the affected area, though the Ministry of Agriculture was reportedly slow to implement these directives.

Information revealed that the approval for dumping the substances was granted via a brief Zoom meeting, only about half an hour after the materials were sent to committee members. The Ministry of Environmental Protection acknowledged the pesticide dumping was unsuccessful and possesses an unpublished report detailing the experiment's failures and consequences. The ministry stated that while professional standards were maintained and all information was presented, the experiment did not yield the desired change in algae treatment, nor were there findings of harm to the marine environment.

The experiment involved a combination of Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate, Aluminium Sulphate, and Sodium Percarbonate, dumped via a plane over a 9-kilometer stretch. The Ministry of Health recommended a fishing ban within a one-kilometer radius of the treatment area and a buffer zone, citing potential risks from algae that could be dangerous to humans and contain toxins harmful to the liver. They advised extending the ban until monitoring results confirm a return to normal background levels.

Despite these concerns, the Ministry of Energy and Water Authority stated that no substance endangered public health and that bathing beaches were safe. They asserted that the approved materials were safe for drinking water and the marine environment. Meanwhile, satellite images showed no improvement in the algae spread, with potential for further expansion towards northern beaches, threatening other desalination facilities. Nevertheless, officials declared the water economy was operating normally, with reservoirs being filled and pumping from wells and the Sea of Galilee ensuring continuous supply.