Water disruptions across Israel after desalination plants shut down

Severe water-supply disruptions were reported across Israel on Tuesday after unusual seawater turbidity forced five of the country’s six desalination plants to suspend operations.

Residents in several cities, including Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva, reported low water pressure and localized outages. Municipal water providers urged the public to conserve water and limit consumption to essential needs.

“Problems in the national water-supply network are continuing, and there is currently no estimate for a return to normal service,” the Mei Givatayim water corporation said. “We ask the public to act responsibly, reduce water consumption as much as possible and use water only for essential needs until further notice.”

Authorities believe the elevated turbidity may have been caused by microscopic algae drifting from the Nile region.

Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen described the event as an unusual natural phenomenon not seen in Israel for two decades.

“The State of Israel has a resilient water system, and we will ensure a regular supply of water to homes throughout the country,” Cohen said. “The phenomenon has significantly increased seawater turbidity and forced most desalination facilities to shut down.”

Cohen said authorities had authorized additional facilities to begin operating and increased water extraction from the Sea of Galilee and groundwater wells.

To maintain household supplies, officials reduced water allocations for agriculture and the irrigation of public spaces. The measure has placed additional pressure on farms, particularly in southern Israel and the Negev.

Agriculture and Food Security Ministry Director General Oren Lavie described the situation as exceptional and warned that extended irrigation interruptions could cause lasting damage.

“For farmers, water use cannot simply be postponed,” Lavie said. “With certain crops, particularly young seedlings, greenhouse produce and other sensitive crops, prolonged interruptions can cause irreversible damage within a short time.”

The Agriculture Ministry has begun dispatching emergency water tankers to dairy farms in Kibbutz Gezer and Moshav Matzliah.

Amid concerns about crop losses ahead of the Tishrei holidays, the Farmers’ Association called on the government to compensate growers for economic damage sustained during the peak of the growing season.

The Agriculture Ministry, Israel Water Authority and national water company Mekorot are continuing to assess the situation and develop targeted assistance for affected farms. Officials said their priority was to protect household water supplies while preventing disruptions to the country’s fresh-food supply.