Potential Public Health Impacts of Water Infrastructure Damage in the Persian Gulf

• Recent escalation in the Middle East conflict increases the risk of disruption to desalination plants and power generation facilities in the Persian Gulf.

• Countries across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Israel rely heavily on desalination for freshwater, with over 90 percent of the Gulf’s desalinated water coming from 56 plants.

• Damage to water infrastructure could lead to several public health risks, especially if disruptions are sustained.  

Recent escalation dynamics in the Middle East conflict have increased the risk of disruption to critical water infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, particularly desalination plants. Since countries across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Israel rely heavily on desalination for freshwater, significant damage to these facilities could trigger widespread water shortages and substantial public health risks.  

Recent infrastructure damage reported includes:

• Iran: On March 7, authorities confirmed an attack on one of Iran’s desalination plants on Qeshm Island, damaging infrastructure and disrupting water supplies to approximately 30 villages.  
• Bahrain: On March 8, authorities reported that an Iranian drone attack caused material damage to a desalination plant.
• United Arab Emirates (UAE): On March 2, Iranian strikes on Dubai’s Jebel Ali port occurred approximately 12 miles (20km) from one of the world’s largest desalination plants, which produces 160 billion gallons of the city’s drinking water annually. Damage was also reported near the Fujairah F1 power and water complex.  
• Kuwait: Damage was reported near Kuwait’s Doha West desalination plant following attacks on nearby infrastructure and falling debris during drone interceptions.  

Many desalination plants in the Gulf are integrated with power generation facilities, meaning attacks on electrical infrastructure can also impact water production. Over 90 percent of the Gulf’s desalinated water comes from 56 plants. Kuwait and Qatar obtain roughly 90 percent of their freshwater supply from desalination, while Oman (86 percent) and Saudi Arabia (70 percent) also depend heavily on these systems.

Desalination systems require specialized equipment and complex repairs, and therefore, major disruptions could take months to resolve. Communities may need to rely on emergency alternatives such as water trucking or storage tanks, bottled water distribution, or household storage. These measures can increase the risk of contamination and sanitation breakdowns, particularly if disruptions are prolonged.  

Reduced Access to Safe Drinking Water  

A reduction in safe drinking water increases the risk of dehydration, particularly among infants, older adults, individuals with chronic illnesses, and people working outdoors in high temperatures. Water scarcity can also interfere with medication use. Many medicines require adequate water for safe consumption, and some treatments require clean water for preparation.  

Unsafe Water and Sanitation Infrastructure  

Loss of reliable water and sanitation services increases the likelihood of diarrheal disease and other infections. Limited access to safe water can compromise hand hygiene, food preparation, and cleaning practices, raising the risk of gastrointestinal illness. These risks are amplified in crowded accommodation (e.g., temporary shelters).

Healthcare System Strain  

Water and power instability can rapidly degrade safe clinical operations. Healthcare facilities require reliable water for sanitation, infection prevention, waste management, and basic clinical care.  Predictable failure points during prolonged disruption include oxygen delivery systems, cold-chain integrity for vaccines, insulin, and blood products, laboratory diagnostics and imaging, and dialysis services. Backup generators exist, but resilience can be constrained. Facilities may postpone elective procedures, reduce admissions, or divert patients, which pushes the burden onto other hospitals and delays care for time-sensitive conditions.  

Psychological and Behavioral Effects    

Water disruptions can also produce behavioral and market responses that worsen public health risks. Perceived scarcity may trigger panic buying, hoarding, and unequal distribution, creating localized shortages even where overall supply remains sufficient.  

Environmental Risks from Desalination Plant Disruption  

Damage to desalination plants could result in environmental harm, particularly if it leads to the uncontrolled release of treatment chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride, and sulfuric acid. While these substances are typically managed and discharged within regulated limits, disruptions or damage can increase the risk of improper handling or release. Desalination facilities also routinely discharge hypersaline brine into the Gulf, which is generally diluted but can still place localized stress on coastal and marine ecosystems. Any operational disruption may exacerbate these impacts by altering discharge volumes or concentrations. 

Reliable access to safe drinking water and sanitation is central to routine public health across the Persian Gulf. In countries where desalination supplies most municipal water, disruptions to desalination plants, electricity, or distribution systems can quickly reduce access to safe water, weaken hygiene practices, and place additional strain on healthcare facilities.  

Even when damage does not immediately interrupt supply, repeat attempts or adjacent strikes affecting power, intake systems, pumping, and distribution can produce cascading impacts. Prolonged shortages can increase infection risk, complicate hygiene and sanitation practices, delay medical care, and widen access gaps between communities. 

This represents the most complete data available as of March 17.   

As households shift to alternative water sources or store water for longer periods, maintaining water quality and equitable access becomes more difficult. Low water pressure, intermittent service, and pump failures can increase contamination risk and limit hygiene. Where hygiene breaks down, risks include norovirus and diarrheal bacteria such as enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and potentially higher-risk infections (e.g., hepatitis A and typhoid) where sanitation is compromised.  

Below are recommended precautions and best practices to reduce risk:

• Use treated or sealed bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, infant formula, washing produce, and making ice.  
• Maintain a safe water chain: treat - store covered - pour (do not dip cups or hands into containers).  
• Prioritize hand and forearm hygiene after toilet use and before food prep and eating.  
• If diarrhea develops, dehydration is the main danger. Prioritize fluids and electrolytes, seek care early if severe or persistent.  

Treat water risk as two different hazards:  

• Microbial contamination: Can cause rapid illness or outbreaks; typically mitigated by boiling, disinfection, filtration (microbiological grade), and safe storage.  
• Chemical contamination: May not be removed by boiling or chlorination; boiling can concentrate some chemicals as water volume reduces. Note: If chemical contamination is suspected, shift to alternate supply (sealed bottled/verified bulk delivery) rather than improvised treatment.  

If you must treat water on-site, use a multi-barrier approach:  

1. Pre-filter cloudy water (use a clean cloth/coffee filter).  
2. Disinfect for microbes: boiling (preferred when feasible) or approved disinfectant method per recognized guidance.  
3. Safe storage: clean container with a tight lid; avoid hand contact; pour instead of dipping.  

If you are in the region, Crisis24 has the capabilities to provide your organization with secure transportation, personal protection, critical supplies, internal relocations and evacuation, contingency planning, and medical assistance.  Learn more about our Middle East security and operational support capabilities.

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