Algae

Israel's state-funded purchase of 45 million shekels in desalination membranes to counter algal blooms will ultimately save private operators heavy future costs as severe wear was avoided.

Yehezkel Lifshitz, director of the Water Authority, rejects the claim that the system was caught unprepared, and argues that the very fact that most of the public barely felt the crisis proves the strength of the water sector. He gives himself and the Water Authority a grade of 8 for how the crisis was handled.

The Ministry of Health has recommended temporarily halting fishing in the area where treatment against algae proliferation was carried out near desalination plants in the Mediterranean Sea, due to uncertainty regarding the identity of the algae and the effects of the treatment. The ministry emphasizes: there is no proven danger, there is no impediment to consuming fish currently on the market, and...

The Water Authority has increased the tariff per cubic meter of desalinated water to 4 shekels to incentivize private companies to continue operations despite algae pollution. The crisis highlights the risks associated with the full privatization of Israel's water sector.

The CEO of the Water Authority warns of an extraordinary event not seen in 20 years, which caused an almost complete shutdown of the system. These are the steps taken to prevent damage to the supply to homes.