Gaza sewage pollution triggers algae bloom and water crisis in Israel
An exceptional algae bloom, linked to untreated sewage from Gaza's destroyed wastewater infrastructure, forced five of Israel's six desalination plants to shut down temporarily. The plants are now operating at reduced capacity, causing weeks of water shortages. Scientists say the pollution crosses borders, with nutrients from sewage feeding the bloom.
The bloom stretched roughly 100 kilometers along the Mediterranean coast, from Gaza toward Ashdod. Desalination experts note that nitrogen and phosphorus in sewage accelerate microalgae and cyanobacteria growth. Before the conflict, Gaza sourced most of its water from a coastal aquifer, now contaminated by seawater and wastewater. Three Israeli-controlled pipelines were severed early in the war and only partially restored.
Gaza's population now depends heavily on water trucks, facing trade-offs between drinking water and hygiene. Acute diarrhoea has become a leading illness. Meanwhile, Israel's remaining desalination capacity is strained, and environmental groups warn that pollution crosses political boundaries, affecting water production along the southern Mediterranean coast.
This crisis could affect millions on both sides of the border. Israeli households may face prolonged water rationing as desalination capacity remains reduced, potentially impacting agriculture, industry, and daily life. In Gaza, the destruction of water infrastructure compounds an already dire humanitarian situation, where disease and dehydration pose ongoing risks. The incident may also highlight regional interdependence on shared water resources, prompting discussions about infrastructure resilience and cross-border environmental cooperation, though such outcomes remain uncertain.