A massive microalgae bloom in the Mediterranean Sea temporarily shut down five of Israel's six major desalination plants.
A massive microalgae bloom in the Mediterranean Sea recently forced the temporary closure of five of Israel's six major desalination plants. These facilities, which provide at least 65 percent of the country's drinking water, were knocked offline by the bloom, which originated in the Nile Delta and traveled northward along the coast. Lior Gutman, a spokesperson for the national water company Mekorot, stated that this was an extremely rare event. To manage the water supply during the closures, authorities increased water from the Sea of Galilee, groundwater wells, and reservoirs while restricting some agricultural and public irrigation. The bloom was caused by a combination of environmental factors, including warm water, strong sunlight, and a recent storm that increased turbidity. Scientists also identified untreated sewage from the Gaza Strip as a contributing factor. To address the algae, the Water Authority dumped a cocktail of materials, including large quantities of copper sulfate, into the sea. The Energy and Water Ministry stated that these substances were applied in controlled quantities and were designed to disperse and degrade rapidly.
Sources
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Gaza’s destroyed sewage system linked to ‘rare’ algae bloom shutting Israeli desalination plants
Middle East Eye
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‘Extremely rare event:’ Miles-long microalgae bloom knocks out most of Israel’s desalination plants
CNN
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Officials seek to calm public after algicides dumped at sea in bid to reopen desalination plants
The Times of Israel