The price of the Water Authority's failed experiment: 5 million shekels and tons of chemicals in the sea
The Water Authority paid 5 million shekels for a failed experiment in which 70 tons of chemicals were dispersed in the sea to control algae, without prior public notification. The experiment was conducted by the company Blugreen, and the Ministry of Health banned fishing afterward. Experts warn of ongoing ecological damage.
The Water Authority paid 5 million shekels for a controversial experiment in which 40 tons of copper sulfate and 30 tons of aluminum sulfate were dispersed in the sea, aiming to eradicate algae that had caused the shutdown of desalination plants. The experiment was conducted by the company Blugreen, without prior public notification, and the Ministry of Health was forced to ban fishing afterward. Since August, for a month, five out of six desalination plants supplying 80% of Israel's water operated partially due to turbidity from a microalgae bloom. Dr. Zvi Steiner from the Hebrew University warns that copper is toxic to zooplankton and could harm the ecological balance and cause recurring algae blooms. The Water Authority stated that the proposal was reviewed by professional teams, and after the experiment it was decided to deepen the analysis of the inconclusive findings.