Yes. In early September 2026, a miles-long Mediterranean microalgae bloom temporarily knocked offline five of Israel’s six coastal desalination plants, which supply most of the country’s drinking water. Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, called it an extremely rare event; scientists linked the bloom to algae believed to have traveled from the Nile Delta, with high turbidity and sea temperatures around 86°F (30°C) fouling reverse-osmosis membranes.
By Thursday, only one plant was back at full capacity, while authorities bridged the gap with Sea of Galilee water, groundwater wells, and reserves, and temporarily limited irrigation and garden watering. Drinking-water shortages were avoided in roughly 99% of cases, per Mekorot.
Source: CNN — Microalgae bloom knocks out most of Israel’s desalination plants