Desalination crisis explained: what shut the plants, and could Israel run out of water?

Live updates

1. 13d ago

   Israel's desalination crisis worsens as five of six plants shut down

   Israel is facing a severe desalination crisis as five of its six Mediterranean desalination plants have been shut down or reduced operations due to high seawater turbidity caused by an algae bloom. The shutdowns have raised concerns about the country's water supply, particularly for agriculture. While household water supplies remain intact, farmers are sounding the alarm about potential crop damage and economic losses. The crisis has prompted the energy minister to assure that water supply to all homes will be ensured.

   Why it matters

   Israel heavily relies on desalination for its water supply, with the Mediterranean plants providing a significant portion of the country's drinking water and water for agriculture. The current crisis has exposed the vulnerability of this system to environmental factors and raised questions about the country's preparedness for such events. The shutdowns have come ahead of the High Holy Days, a critical period for Israeli agriculture.

   What is confirmed

   • Five of Israel's six Mediterranean desalination plants are offline due to high seawater turbidity.
   • The shutdowns were caused by an unusual algae bloom.
   • The crisis has raised concerns about potential crop damage and economic losses for farmers.
   • Household water supplies remain intact despite the desalination plant shutdowns.
   • The energy minister has assured that water supply to all homes will be ensured.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Israel halted supply of water to Gaza amid the ongoing desalination crisis.

   What to watch next

   • The return to operation of the shut-down desalination plants
   • The impact of the crisis on agricultural production and economy
   • The government's plan to address the vulnerability of the desalination system
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. The Times of Israel — Desalination plants again shut down due to murky seawater; farmers sound the alarm
   2. Xinhua — Temporary water stations serve Jerusalem residents amid water outages
   3. The Times of Israel — Energy minister says he'll ensure water supply to all homes amid desalination plan shutdowns
   4. Ynetnews — Desalination crisis explained: what shut the plants, and could Israel run out of water?
   5. Ynetnews — Three desalination plants still offline as experts urge Israel to prepare for compound crises
   6. The Jerusalem Post — Ongoing desalination plant shutdown threatens Israeli farms ahead of holidays
   7. Yahoo — Israeli agriculture at risk ahead of High Holy Days as desalination systems remain nonfunctional
   8. FreshPlaza — Desalination shutdown threatens Israeli vegetable crops
   9. Haaretz — Israel Halted Supply of Water to Gaza Amid Ongoing Desalination Crisis
   10. Smart Water Magazine — Five of Israel’s six Mediterranean desalination plants offline as seawater turbidity halts filtration
   11. Bloomberg.com — Israel Leans On Galilee as Marine Bacterium Limits Desalination
   12. Ynetnews — ‘Once-in-30-years phenomenon’: energy minister says desalination crisis nearly over
   confidence 85%