Red Tide

Parts of Ras al-Khaimah are without their normal water supply due to a "red tide" algal bloom:

"Ghaleelah Desalination Plant has been sealed off following the spread of "red tide" on the coast in the emirate's northern areas, but mostly in Ghaleelah.

"The northern regional office of the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) announced the official, temporary closure of the plant until the phenomenon is over.

"Sources in the department said that work in the plant will be resumed once the red tide is no longer in the area, adding that Fewa is working hard to provide residents with suitable alternatives to meet their daily water needs. The sources added that local need in the Ghaleelah area and other affected areas would be met by sending water containers and pumping water from nearby wells."

I'm just starting to look into the details of Gulf environmental issues, but this type of phenomenon has lots of human causes, and it wouldn't surprise me if the UAE were once again causing its own problem.