Israel faces a drinking water shortage after an algae bloom in the Mediterranean Sea disrupted desalination capacity along its southern coast. The environmental crisis is linked to the destruction of water treatment infrastructure in Gaza, which has sent raw sewage flowing directly into the sea, according to the Israeli non-governmental organization Zalul.
Algae Bloom Chokes Israeli Desalination Plants
Microalgae and cyanobacteria proliferated across a 60-mile stretch of the Mediterranean, feeding on nitrogen and phosphorus contained in untreated sewage. This organic surge clogged filter systems at five of Israel’s six primary desalination facilities. According to Zalul, the plants temporarily halted operations and continue to run at reduced capacities. Jack Gilron, a professor emeritus and desalination expert at the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben-Gurion University, stated that the influx of untreated wastewater increases the risk to Israel’s southern coastal water production infrastructure and highlights the need to protect primary drinking water sources.
Infrastructure Collapse and Unfiltered Sewage in Gaza
The pollution stems from widespread damage to sanitation systems in Gaza, where approximately 90% of water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed since October 7, 2023, according to Médecins Sans Frontières. Omar Shatat, deputy executive director of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility in Gaza, reported that all five wastewater treatment plants in the territory are offline. Consequently, about 45,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage pour into the Mediterranean daily, while another 15,000 cubic meters seep into groundwater via absorption pits. Pat Griffiths, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, warned that residents live surrounded by wastewater.
Public Health and Agricultural Fallout
Acute diarrhea has become a primary driver of illness in Gaza, where residents must choose between drinking water and saving it for handwashing. The environmental toll has also crossed borders into southern Israel, triggering an unprecedented plague of rats invading homes and gardens near the frontier. In response to the reduced output from desalination facilities, Israeli authorities have asked citizens to conserve water, cut supplies to the southern region, and ordered farmers to halt irrigation, measures economists project will raise food prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Israeli desalination plants shut down?
Five of Israel’s six primary desalination facilities were forced to halt operations temporarily and scale back capacity because an algae bloom clogged their intake filters.
What caused the algae bloom in the Mediterranean?
Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from unmanaged sewage flowing out of Gaza fueled a massive population explosion of microalgae and cyanobacteria over a 100-kilometer stretch of sea.
How much wastewater enters the sea from Gaza daily?
The Coastal Municipalities Water Utility estimates that roughly 45,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage flow into the Mediterranean every single day.
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