Desalination plants south of Hadera shut down. Industry source: "Not a cyber incident"
Extreme weather conditions have affected the quality of seawater, leading to the suspension of plant operations. Following the shutdown, instructions were issued to reduce the supply of fresh water for agriculture in the south. Against this backdrop, previous Iranian attempts to target water infrastructure in Israel are being recalled, but an industry source rules out a cyberattack.
Desalination plants south of Hadera ceased operations today, Monday, due to extreme weather conditions. The Water Authority confirmed that weather conditions affected the quality of the seawater and led to the temporary suspension of operations at some of the plants. Consequently, instructions were issued to reduce the supply of fresh water for agriculture in the south.
According to the Water Authority, severe turbidity in the seawater was recorded due to the weather. However, the Authority emphasizes that the water sector continues to operate fully, and the Mekorot company is immediately increasing all available production means. According to current assessments, some of the desalination plants are expected to return to operation soon. Professional teams are monitoring water quality and intend to return all plants to operation as soon as the seawater becomes clearer. The Water Authority clarified that they are prepared for various scenarios.
Against the backdrop of the shutdown, concerns arose regarding the possibility of a cyberattack, given previous attempts to target water infrastructure in Israel and worldwide. However, an industry source clarified that this is not a cyber incident.
Earlier this month, after it was reported in the USA that a cyberattack attributed to Iran targeted water systems in seven states, the National Cyber Directorate stated that Israel experiences attacks in all sectors on a daily basis. The Directorate noted that over the years, numerous Iranian attempts have been made to attack the water sector in Israel, but significant damage in the cyber domain has been prevented.
