Key facts
- A microalgae bloom in the Mediterranean Sea disrupted operations at five of Israel's six major desalination plants.
- The bloom, up to 100km long and 7km wide, clogged filters, reducing plant capacity to 50%.
- Experts cite nutrient-rich sewage from Gaza, potentially linked to war-related destruction of treatment plants, as a contributing factor.
- The algae bloom has persisted for nearly three weeks, raising concerns about future recurrences.
- Israel relies on desalination for over 60% of its drinking water.
A massive bloom of microalgae in the Mediterranean Sea has crippled five of Israel's six major desalination plants, raising significant concerns about the nation's water security. The bloom, which reached up to 100km long and 7km wide, clogged the filters of the plants responsible for generating over 60% of Israel's drinking water.
While the plants are now operational again, they are running at only up to 50% capacity. Experts are worried that similar events could occur in the future, especially given the persistence of the algae, which has remained present for nearly three weeks. The algae is believed to have originated from the Nile Delta and spread northwards, fueled by warmer Mediterranean Sea temperatures and nutrient-rich waters.
Some academics suggest that the destruction of Gaza's sewage treatment plants amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas may have contributed to the bloom. Gidon Bromberg of EcoPeace Middle East noted that sewage acts as a nutrient for algae and that pre-war restrictions on materials entering Gaza had already hampered the completion of modern sewage treatment facilities.
Edo Bar-Zeev, a professor at Ben-Gurion University, described the event as an "unexpected mega event," noting its unusual duration compared to typical, shorter-lived blooms. Lior Gutman, spokesman for Israel's national water company Mekorot, referred to the bloom as a "huge carpet of microorganisms."
The impact on Israeli households and farmers was minimal, a stark contrast to the dire water situation in Gaza, where 90% of water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed, according to Doctors Without Borders. The incident serves as a wake-up call for the water sector, particularly in the Middle East, where desalination has been crucial for water security.