Severe seawater turbidity disrupts water supply in Israel.

SHOTLIST JERUSALEM (AUG. 31, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF EMERGENCY WATER TANKS INSTALLED NEAR DAMASCUS GATE IN OLD CITY 2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE COLLECTING WATER FROM TANKSJERUSALEM - AUG. 31, 2026: Five of Israel’s six seawater desalination plants were temporarily shut because of what authorities described as severe turbidity caused by weather conditions, according to Israeli media reports on Monday, Aug. 31. The Sorek A, Sorek B, Palmachim, Ashkelon and Ashdod facilities were closed, while the Hadera plant remained operational, The Times of Israel reported. The Israel Water Authority ordered a reduction in drinking water supplied to agricultural areas in the south. Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality also restricted water used for park irrigation systems, beach showers and public fountains, according to Yedioth Ahronoth. Israeli media cited sources as saying the disruption was not linked to a cyberattack. The Energy and Infrastructure Ministry later said the Sorek A and B plants had resumed operations at full capacity. It added that the Palmachim and Ashdod facilities were expected to return to full capacity shortly. Water outages were reported in some parts of Jerusalem. The Israel Water Authority placed drinking water tanks near Damascus Gate in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem as an emergency preparedness measure.