Water Authority Spokesperson: "The crisis will end within hours"

"This is the first time in five years that this has happened," revealed today, Monday, Water Authority spokesperson Itay Dudi in a conversation with "Ha-Yom." Dudi addressed the disruptions experienced by residents of Jerusalem and the Negev and explained that the source of the malfunction was turbidity in the Mediterranean Sea, which forced the shutdown of five desalination plants.

The conversation takes place against the backdrop of a water crisis felt since the morning across the country and the management of the sector in an emergency format. Dudi clarifies that stopping water intake from the sea is not a technical failure in the facilities themselves but a preventive measure intended to protect them. "It's like when you stir coffee in a cup, the mud, and then it becomes turbid. So it needs to settle," Dudi describes the situation in the Mediterranean. "As soon as they see that the turbidity is rising, they stop the intake so it doesn't damage them. They simply stop when it reaches a certain level and then wait for it to settle in order to pump."

According to the spokesperson, the forecast for returning to routine is relatively short. "We hope it will be a matter of hours," he estimates. "It is enough for one facility to return, and then we are in a better situation; if two return even partially, the situation will be much better." However, he qualifies his remarks, noting that the sea dictates the pace and that the situation depends on natural factors. "A current could come and stir the coffee again. So it's like this game," says Dudi.

According to data from the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, a downward trend in water turbidity is now emerging. Dudi adds that the average is dropping and that no chaos is expected in the coming days. The current plan is to first return the northern facilities, such as Sorek and Palmachim, to operation, while in Ashkelon the turbidity is still high and the return there will be delayed.

The background for the shutdown of the facilities is the stormy weather of the last few days. A drift of sand, mud, and algae penetrated the Mediterranean Sea and created a real risk to infrastructure. If the water intake had not been stopped, the turbidity would have caused the collapse of the pre-filtration system and permanent clogging of the expensive filters under immense pressure, which would have led to irreversible damage requiring months of work to repair.

As a result of the shutdown, significant pressure drops and supply disruptions were recorded in high neighborhoods in Jerusalem such as Geula and Mea Shearim, and in various areas in the Negev. To deal with the shortage, the Water Authority and the Mekorot company activated a national emergency plan that includes reverse flow in the National Water Carrier and increased pumping from the Sea of Galilee and groundwater. Simultaneously, the supply of potable water to farmers was almost completely stopped, and they were required to rely on treated wastewater only.

The current water crisis also highlights the issue of the resilience of national water infrastructure. Although this is a natural climatic event, water systems are under constant threat of cyberattacks. In a scenario of hostile intrusion into computerized control systems, there is a fear of dangerous changes in chemical dosages or the locking of pumps that would cause pipes to burst. To prevent a prolonged shutdown and maintain functional continuity, employees of water companies and local corporations are prepared to physically arrive at the site and operate the valves and pumping stations completely manually and without any dependence on the internet network.