Israeli desalination crisis linked to Gaza sewage spill and algae bloom
Israel's water shortage is worsening after Gaza's sewage infrastructure was destroyed, dumping raw waste into the sea and fueling a massive algae bloom that clogs desalination filters.
Weeks of water scarcity in Israel are now tied to the collapse of Gaza's sewage system, which was heavily damaged by Israeli strikes. The resulting discharge of untreated waste into the Mediterranean supplies nitrogen and phosphorus that have sparked a sprawling algae bloom up to 100 kilometres long. This bloom has choked filters in five of six key desalination facilities, leaving them shut or operating at limited output.
Environmental NGOs and water specialists say the spill endangers Israel's coastal water-production infrastructure and could raise food prices as farmers halt irrigation. Gaza residents also face severe health risks, with sewage flooding camps, rodent infestations and rising cases of diarrhoea and hepatitis. Calls have been made for the Israeli water authority Cogat to help rebuild Gaza's sewage treatment capacity to stop the cross-border contamination.
Why it matters
The cross-border sewage spill threatens water security and public health for both Gaza and Israel.
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