Israel desalination plants shut down due to seawater pollution

Most of Israel's desalination plants have been forced into an emergency shutdown due to high seawater turbidity and pollution. The disruption affects facilities that provide approximately 80 percent of the country's fresh water supply. While the Hadera plant remains operational, several other plants, including those near Palmachim, have faced intermittent shutdowns.

The crisis is placing significant pressure on the agricultural sector. In the Nitzana region near the Egyptian border, vegetable growers depend on desalinated water for 80 to 90 percent of their needs. The shutdown threatens roughly 20,000 dunams of crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, which currently require high volumes of irrigation water.

The Water Authority is investigating the cause of the turbidity, with preliminary assessments using satellite imagery suggesting a large drift of microalgae, potentially originating from the Nile region in Egypt. These microalgae are small enough to penetrate desalination filters. As a precaution, authorities have instructed local water corporations to reduce non-essential usage, such as irrigating public gardens and lawns, though domestic drinking water remains safe.