Jerusalem Residents Endure Overnight Water Outages Amid Desalination Plant Disruptions

Thousands of Jerusalem residents experienced prolonged water outages overnight Tuesday, with some areas remaining without supply for up to 12 hours. The disruptions affected basic household needs, forcing families to ration water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation. One resident described the situation as a "nightmare," recounting how they had to use limited bottled water and were unable to shower or flush toilets.

Residents reported no prior notification of the planned or unplanned water stoppage. The Jerusalem Water Utility, Gihon, confirmed that the outages were linked to nationwide disruptions in water supply stemming from issues at desalination plants. A Gihon representative explained to a caller that water reserves for certain neighborhoods, like Sanhedaria, had been depleted.

The widespread water problems were attributed to unusual weather conditions that increased the turbidity of seawater, leading to the temporary shutdown of several desalination facilities. While some plants have since resumed operations, the impact continued to be felt in Jerusalem. Water Authority and Ministry of Energy officials stated on Wednesday morning that most desalination plants were still offline due to the high turbidity.

In response to the shortages, water distribution points were established across Jerusalem to allow residents to refill containers. The authorities advised against hoarding water, assuring that efforts were underway to restore normal supply. However, reduced water pressure and localized disruptions are expected to continue in some areas, with public gardening and agricultural activities being curtailed to conserve resources.