Gaza’s Water Crisis: 50-Mile Algae Bloom Hits Coast

A record-sized algae bloom struck the coasts of Israel and Gaza in early autumn, according to Haaretz. The bloom stretched up to 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) and disrupted drinking water supplies. Researchers suspect the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure and a warmer sea are behind the outbreak. Untreated sewage releases phosphorus and nitrogen, the main nutrients that feed algae growth. “Untreated sewage discharge contains phosphorus and nitrogen, which are the most important building blocks for algal blooms,” said Agnes Karlsson, associate professor of ecotoxicology at Stockholm University.