Israel's water crisis eases, but algae bloom still threatens desalination

Israel's water crisis has eased after a week of disruptions caused by a massive algae bloom. The country's desalination plants were temporarily shut down, affecting household and agricultural water supply. The Water Authority reported that water is now being supplied normally through controlled operation of some desalination plants, increased flows from the Sea of Galilee, and hundreds of groundwater wells.

One desalination plant is operating despite high turbidity levels in the seawater. The algae crisis's end is still unknown. Earlier this week, pesticides were sprayed off the coast of Ashkelon to curb the algae bloom, though environmental concerns were raised. The Energy and Infrastructure Ministry approved the use of the chemical from BlueGreen Technologies, a water purification startup.

The Health Ministry advised a ban on fishing in the affected area due to potential health risks. Israel's Water Authority noted that the crisis occurs at a complex time for the country's water security, with Lake Kinneret's level below a critical threshold and the driest two years in the lake's drainage basin in the past century.