Israeli Health Ministry Issues Urgent Warning Over Contaminated Northern Rivers Amid Peak Travel Season

On August 3, 2026, the Israeli Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environmental Protection issued an urgent public warning after water tests revealed dangerously high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in several northern rivers. The bacterial concentrations far exceeded the Health Ministry’s safety limit of 400 bacteria per 100 milliliters, indicating significant water contamination that poses health risks to swimmers and visitors.

Access has been banned in multiple locations including the Jordan River from Yossef Bridge to Arik Bridge, with extreme contamination noted at Lahavot Bashan Bridge, Pakak Bridge, and Hamisha Bridge where bacteria levels were too high to count. Other affected sites include the Hatzbani River from the Roman Bridge to the confluence promenade, Banias near Kfar Salad Bridge, and several pools and streams such as Tzalmon Pool (3,700 bacteria), Hexagons Pool (2,300 bacteria), Zaki (1,300 bacteria), Gilbon near Deborah Waterfall, Al-Al River, and Kaziv near Delavim Pool.

The Environmental Protection Ministry stated no identifiable pollution source has been found. Routine biweekly sampling by Nature and Parks Authority inspectors covers fixed points in the Upper Galilee, Golan Heights, and Western Galilee. Both ministries will continue monitoring and sampling, promising to update the public once water quality returns to safe and stable levels.