Israel Launches First Pilot to Add Magnesium to Desalinated Drinking Water in Shlomi
For the first time in Israel, a national pilot project has begun in the coastal town of Maagan Michael to reintroduce magnesium into desalinated drinking water. This initiative addresses a long-standing health concern that desalination removes essential minerals like magnesium, which is vital for heart, muscle, and other bodily functions. Natural water sources typically contain 20 to 30 milligrams of magnesium per liter, but desalinated seawater has almost none due to the removal of salts and minerals during the process.
The pilot, developed by environmental technology company EPT using a method created at the Technion by Dr. Paz Nativ, produces a purified magnesium sulfate solution that is gradually added to the desalinated water under controlled conditions. The project will test water quality, system stability, safety, dosage control, and cost-effectiveness. Professor Uri Lahav, one of the technology's developers, noted the method can add over 20 milligrams of magnesium per liter at a cost two to three times lower than alternatives. A similar technology version is already in use in Saudi Arabia.
This effort follows more than a decade of delays and debates involving the Ministry of Health, Water Authority, Ministry of Finance, and public health researchers. A 2024 State Comptroller report highlighted studies linking low magnesium in drinking water to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. One Israeli observational study found that heart attack patients in areas supplied mainly by desalinated water had more than double the 30-day mortality risk compared to those in areas with natural water sources. However, these studies do not prove causation.
The Maagan Michael community first raised awareness nearly ten years ago after residents reported increased muscle cramps following a switch to desalinated water. While anecdotal, these reports helped spur the search for a solution. The pilot's success could pave the way for nationwide magnesium supplementation in Israel's desalinated water and potentially offer a model for other countries reliant on seawater desalination.
If the pilot meets its goals, it will provide the scientific, engineering, and economic foundation for a national decision on magnesium addition. Until then, the project remains a promising but unproven approach to improving public health through water mineral content restoration.
