Health Authorities Close Popular Northern Israel Streams Due to High Bacterial Contamination

The Israeli Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection have issued warnings to hikers and local authorities against entering nine popular water sites in northern Israel due to unusually high levels of bacterial contamination. Tests conducted on Monday revealed elevated counts of fecal coliform bacteria, with the highest concentration recorded at the Haruv Pool in Nahal Tzalmon, measuring 3,700 bacteria per 100 milliliters of water.

Other affected locations include Banias near the Kfar Szold bridge, and the Hatzbani River from the Roman bridge to the confluence promenade at the Jordan River. Elevated bacteria levels were also found along the Jordan River from the Joseph Bridge to the Arik Bridge, with 3,400 bacteria at the Pekak Bridge and 2,050 at the Lahavot Bashan Bridge. Additional sites with contamination include the Hexagons Pool (2,300 bacteria), Zaki (1,300), Arik Bridge (1,700), Atarot Mitzad (1,900), Ddot Bridge (700), Deborah Waterfall in Gilabon, Nahal El Al, and the Dalavim Pool in Kaziv.

The ministries recommend avoiding all water contact at these sites until bacterial levels return to safe and stable readings. Despite ongoing biweekly sampling by the Nature and Parks Authority inspectors at fixed points across the Upper Galilee, Golan Heights, and Western Galilee, the source of the contamination remains unidentified. Monitoring and testing will continue, with public updates provided as necessary. At one sampling point, the Five Bridge on the Jordan River, bacterial counts were too high to quantify.

The warnings come amid routine environmental surveillance, emphasizing the importance of public caution to prevent health risks from waterborne pathogens in these popular natural areas.