Water supply to farmers resumed; expert warns: "Our systems are exposed"
The shutdown of desalination plants raises questions about Israeli readiness for extreme situations. Former Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection: "Pollution from Gaza is reaching us, we must deal with it." Despite the crisis, water supply to farmers in the south has been resumed. Satellite images show the murky water that led to the shutdown.
Experts warn that Israel's water systems are exposed and at risk. According to specialists, sewage pollution from the Gaza Strip has exacerbated damage to infrastructure facilities. The shutdown was caused by fears of physical damage to desalination plants due to algae accumulation. By order of the Water Authority, water supply to farmers in the south has been resumed.
The desalination crisis affecting Israel in recent days raises questions about the country's ability to cope with acute water shortages. Galit Cohen, former Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and a senior researcher at the INSS, explained in a conversation with N12 how prepared Israel is for extreme situations and what procedures can be activated before reaching a state of domestic water cutoff.
"In the latest case, we saw how exposed and at risk all our systems are," said Cohen, who currently heads the Israel Climate Fund (JCT). She noted that 80% of urban water consumption in Israel comes from desalination, highlighting a deep dependence on these facilities. Despite good management of the water sector, the country remains vulnerable to phenomena that are difficult to predict in advance.
According to Cohen, a series of actions can be taken before cutting off domestic supply: "It is possible that they will cut off agriculture first, although this carries a heavy price—an impact on food quality and food security. But urban consumption can also be reduced: do not water lawns or gardens. There are ways to reduce consumption within the city before taking water from homes." Cohen added that the Water Authority is working to find specific solutions for areas that rely almost exclusively on desalination, such as the southern region, including the possibility of opening local boreholes that were closed in the past to serve as a backup.
The organization Adam Teva V'Din also warns against a policy that relies almost exclusively on desalination plants. According to the organization, the state invests billions in physical protection and cybersecurity around the facilities but ignores critical threats such as sea pollution. "Israel's water resilience is its security. We cannot rely on one source only," the organization explains, demanding that the government approve and budget a master plan for the restoration of groundwater and wells.
Satellite images of Israel's coast show a gray-green strip extending from the Gaza coast north to the center, caused by murky water and algae. The width of this strip gradually increased starting August 25, peaking on September 1.
Cohen hypothesizes that the neglect of sewage treatment flowing from the Gaza Strip into the sea plays a significant role in the crisis. "Pollution from Gaza is reaching us. We need to deal with what is happening in Gaza—it is not for the Gazans, first of all for us," she stated. The latest case proved that the main problem is not water quality, but the fear of severe damage to the desalination plants themselves, which could put them out of operation for a long time.
Meanwhile, the Mekorot company has resumed water flow to farmers in the south. As of now, the Sorek 1 plant remains shut down, while the Palmachim and Sorek 2 plants are working at half capacity. The Hadera plant continues to operate as usual, and there is no danger to drinking water.
