Nile Delta algae disrupts desalination plants in Israel and Egypt

Microscopic algae from the Nile Delta have caused significant disruptions to desalination infrastructure in both Israel and Egypt. In Israel, five out of six major private desalination plants—including facilities in Ashkelon, Palmachim, Sorek A, Sorek B, and Ashdod—were forced to shut down due to high water turbidity. While all facilities have since resumed operations, most are still running at partial capacity. The crisis led to strict water conservation alerts in municipalities such as Jerusalem and forced agricultural cutbacks in the Negev region.

In Egypt, the Kilometre 17 desalination plant, the largest in North Sinai, was also forced to shut down due to rising Mediterranean water turbidity. The closure threatens the drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of residents in the province. Egypt has been increasingly relying on its 125 desalination plants to meet the needs of a growing population as Nile River supplies face mounting pressure from agricultural expansion.