Gaza’s destroyed sewage system linked to ‘rare’ algae bloom shutting Israeli desalination plants

Researchers at Israel's Ben-Gurion University are investigating whether untreated sewage from Gaza may have contributed to a massive algae bloom that has shut down five of Israel's six major desalination plants along the Mediterranean. According to CNN, the algae bloom is spreading along Israel's Mediterranean coast, disrupting seawater desalination plants that provide over 65 percent of the country's drinking water.

The desalination process is crucial for Israel's water supply, with most plants located on the coast. The water authority stated that the water sector is stable, with supplies being increased from the Sea of Galilee, groundwater wells, and reservoirs, while some agricultural and public irrigation has been restricted. However, this crisis has highlighted the vulnerability of Israel's reliance on desalination for major environmental disruptions.

Gaza's wastewater treatment system has been severely damaged during the conflict, with an estimated 40,000 cubic meters of untreated wastewater flowing into the sea each day. Scientists are studying the possibility of environmental impacts from the destroyed sewage infrastructure in Gaza.