State pays over NIS 50 million to supply private desalination plants with equipment

Israeli taxpayers are funding over NIS 50 million in emergency membrane purchases for privately operated desalination plants, following a microalgae bloom that shut down five of six plants last month. The Water Authority confirmed the state spent NIS 23.6 million so far and will spend another NIS 27 million by year-end. Two plants operated at 80% capacity Tuesday due to turbidity; Sorek B ran at 50% due to a technical malfunction. The desalination plants supply up to 80% of Israel's drinking water.

Israeli taxpayers are paying more than NIS 50 million ($16.2 million) to purchase emergency membranes for privately operated desalination plants, following an unprecedented microalgae bloom that shut down five of the country's six desalination plants last month. The Water Authority confirmed it has already spent NIS 23.6 million ($7.66 million) on new membranes and will spend another NIS 27 million ($8.77 million) by the end of this year. The microalgae, swept north from the Nile Delta by Mediterranean waves, caused the shutdown and continues to affect operations: the Ashdod and Palmachim plants were operating at around 80% capacity on Tuesday due to high seawater turbidity, while Sorek B ran at 50% capacity due to a technical malfunction. The Sorek A and Ashkelon plants operated at full capacity, and the Hadera plant, located north of the microalgae, continued operating throughout. The desalination plants provide up to 80% of Israel's drinking water and are considered a strategic asset. A Water Authority spokesperson said the emergency stock is needed in case damage accumulates on the membranes, requiring replacement. The article's framing relies on the state paying for equipment at privately operated facilities, but does not explain why the private operators do not bear this cost.