Israel is facing weeks of drinking water shortages after a massive microalgae bloom choked filters at five of its main coastal desalination plants, an environmental crisis that researchers link to the destruction of wastewater infrastructure in Gaza. Jack Gilron, a professor emeritus and desalination expert at Ben-Gurion University’s Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, said the incident highlights the vulnerability of the country’s primary drinking water sources.
How Untreated Sewage Triggered the Desalination Crisis
Massive discharges of untreated wastewater from the Gaza Strip have flowed directly into the Mediterranean Sea, fueling a 60-mile-long microalgae and cyanobacteria bloom. According to the Zalul Environmental Association, an Israeli NGO dedicated to protecting marine environments, the sewage carries nitrogen and phosphorus that feed the algae.
This vast bloom has clogged filters across five of Israel’s six primary desalination facilities. The plants were forced to shut down for days following the contamination and are currently operating at a reduced capacity.
The Scope of the Environmental and Humanitarian Collapse in Gaza
Nearly three years of bombardment have devastated 90% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure, according to a report by Médecins Sans Frontières. Direct military strikes have hit wells, carrier lines, reservoirs, and desalination units across the coastal strip.
Omar Shatat, deputy executive director of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility in Gaza, stated that all five of the territory’s wastewater treatment plants are entirely out of service. This failure sends an estimated 45,000 cubic metres of raw sewage into the Mediterranean every day, while another 15,000 cubic metres daily seeps into groundwater from soakaway pits in informal camps like al-Mawasi.
Before the war, 80% of Gaza’s water supply relied on a coastal aquifer, but that supply is now heavily contaminated by seawater and wastewater. Pre-war drinking water largely depended on local desalination plants and three Israeli water authority pipelines, which were cut off at the start of the conflict and have only partially reopened.
“We carry water in jerry cans. We walk with heavy containers or wait for hours in queues. Much of the water is unsafe, and children suffer recurring stomach infections, diarrhoea and skin rashes.” — Nas al-Barawi, displaced mother of five from Beit Lahia
Public Health Risks Spread Across Borders
Displaced residents in overcrowded camps face severe sanitation challenges, with wastewater flowing through residential areas and between tents. Pat Griffiths, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City, warned that conditions will deteriorate further with winter.
“Palestinians live surrounded by wastewater. It’s all around them. It’s where they eat, where they get water, where they walk,” Griffiths said.
In addition to waterborne illnesses like hepatitis A and acute diarrhoea, the accumulation of rubbish and raw sewage has triggered unprecedented rat infestations. These rodents have infested both Gaza camps and Israeli communities near the border, swarming homes and gardens.
Nada Majdalani, Palestine director of EcoPeace Middle East, warned that the unfolding public health disaster will not respect political boundaries. “We are already seeing an increase in hepatitis A in Gaza. I believe we are on the verge of a catastrophe. And a serious outbreak in Gaza would not necessarily remain within Gaza’s borders.”
Israeli Authorities Restrict Water and Agriculture
In response to the halted and reduced desalination output, Israeli authorities have urged the public to use water judiciously. Water supplies have been reduced across southern Israel, and officials have instructed farmers to halt irrigation. Economists warn these emergency agricultural restrictions will drive up food prices.
Environmental groups including Zalul and EcoPeace have called on Cogat, the Israeli agency administering Gaza, to help restore the territory’s damaged sewage system and permit wastewater treatment in Israeli-controlled zones. Cogat did not respond to requests for comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the microalgae bloom off the Israeli coast?
Researchers and environmental groups state that the exceptional microalgae bloom was triggered by massive discharges of untreated sewage from Gaza into the Mediterranean Sea. The wastewater provides nitrogen and phosphorus that feed cyanobacteria and microalgae.
How has the war affected Gaza’s water supply?
Bombardment has destroyed 90% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure, leaving all five wastewater treatment plants out of service and contaminating the coastal aquifer with seawater and sewage.
How is the crisis impacting Israel?
The 60-mile-long algae bloom has clogged filtration systems at five of Israel’s six main desalination plants. Facilities were shut down for days and operate at reduced levels, prompting water restrictions in southern Israel and halted agricultural irrigation.
What are the main public health concerns?
Aid groups and environmental organizations report rising rates of hepatitis A and acute diarrhoea in Gaza, alongside severe rat infestations and insect swarms driven by accumulating raw sewage and rubbish.
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