Algae bloom tied to Gaza sewage discharge disrupts Israel's desalination plants, scientists say

Israel is facing weeks of water shortages after an exceptional algae bloom disrupted much of its desalination capacity, a crisis scientists say was triggered by a surge of untreated sewage discharged from Gaza following damage to the territory's wastewater infrastructure.

According to reports, five desalination plants in Israel have been shut down for days as a result of the algae bloom, while Gaza itself remains in the grip of a severe water and sanitation crisis of its own. The Zalul Environmental Association, an Israeli NGO focused on protecting the country's seas and shores, said that "pollution does not recognise political borders", pointing to the discharge of untreated sewage from Gaza into the sea as a contributing factor to the algae bloom affecting Israeli facilities.

How the crisis is said to have developed

Untreated wastewater contains nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can feed the growth of microalgae and cyanobacteria and intensify algae blooms, according to the environmental group's explanation. The wastewater infrastructure in Gaza is reported to have suffered extensive damage as a result of Israeli attacks during the conflict, contributing to what is described as a massive discharge of untreated sewage into the surrounding waters.

A shared environmental impact

The situation illustrates how environmental damage from the conflict has had consequences extending beyond Gaza itself, affecting infrastructure and public resources on the Israeli side of the border as well. Gaza's own water and sanitation systems remain severely compromised, according to the available report, though further details on the current state of humanitarian conditions there were not included.

It was not specified in the original report how long the disruption to Israel's desalination capacity is expected to last, or what steps, if any, are being taken to address the underlying pollution.