Eli Cohen Warns Algae Crisis May Cost Tens of Millions of Shekels
Energy Minister Eli Cohen warned that algae mitigation efforts have not yet succeeded, with potential filter repair costs reaching tens of millions of shekels, while Israel pledges to maintain water supply agreements.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen admitted on Monday that "since the water spraying experiment, we have not seen a significant change in the algae situation." However, Cohen claimed that findings are expected within the next two days and estimated that in the worst-case scenario, the cost of repairs due to membrane (filter) erosion is expected to reach tens of millions of shekels. Cohen added: "There is no estimated date for the disappearance of the algae from the sea."
Commitments and Infrastructure Solutions
Despite the crisis, the minister emphasized that Israel will fulfill its international obligations:
"The State of Israel has a commitment to supply Jordan with 50 million cubic meters under the water agreement, and we will stand by the agreement. If necessary, we will extend the suction pipes of the desalination plants further west to draw water from an uncontaminated area."
To ensure the continuous supply of water, the Water Authority announced yesterday that it has decided to purchase a dedicated stock of membranes for the desalination plants to guarantee uninterrupted supply to all residents and the agricultural sector.
Emergency Water Management
According to the Water Authority, current preparations include a combination of water flow from active desalination plants, the Sea of Galilee, and hundreds of drillings across the country. This is supported by national reservoirs that were backed up and filled over the weekend by the national water company, Mekorot.
On Friday, the Water Authority reported that systems had stabilized and that water supply to all residents and the agricultural sector continues as normal without any restrictions. This was achieved "thanks to a combination of dynamic operations at the desalination plants alongside increased water flow from the Sea of Galilee and hundreds of drillings across the country."
With the expected drop in private consumption over the weekend, Mekorot continued massive filling of national reservoirs to ensure full capacity and maximum redundancy. The authority emphasized that "drinking water is completely safe for drinking and domestic use without any concern."
Chemical Spraying Controversy
Following an exposure by Channel 13 News, which revealed that the Water Authority initiated the dumping of toxic pesticides—including copper sulfate at concentrations 27 times higher than the standard—into the sea about one kilometer off the coast of Ashkelon, officials released a statement over the weekend:
"The localized dispersion of authorized substances in the sea was carried out with the approval of the inter-ministerial committee led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health. The substances do not endanger swimmers, and environmental monitoring is currently being conducted in the area with results expected soon."
Authorities added that the localized fishing ban issued by the Ministry of Health in the treated area was intended solely as a safety precaution until monitoring results are obtained, reassuring the public that fish in the markets and bathing beaches remain completely safe.
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