Ministry of Health issues urgent warning: Do not approach these streams

Travelers planning to visit northern streams in the coming days are asked to exercise extreme caution. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection have issued a warning following abnormal results obtained in water sampling conducted at several locations in the north, where the levels measured exceeded the values recommended by the Ministry of Health.

The tests were conducted on Tuesday, and high concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria were found in some of the streams. The value recommended by the Ministry of Health is 400 bacteria per 100 milliliters of water. Following the results, both ministries announced that entering a number of streams and water sites could be dangerous until normal and stable results are obtained in subsequent sampling.

In Banias, in the area of the Kfar Szold bridge, 700 bacteria were measured. In the Hasbani, at the promenade of the confluence of the streams at the entrance to the Jordan, 730 were measured. In the Jordan, abnormal results were obtained at several points, including 1,000 at the Yosef bridge, 600 at the Lehavot HaBashan bridge, 1,200 at the HaHamisha bridge, 650 at the HaPkak bridge, 800 at the Ateret fortress, and 850 at the Arik bridge.

Particularly high levels were also recorded at the popular nature sites of Meshushim Pool and Jilabun. In the Meshushim Pool, 3,100 bacteria were measured, while in Jilabun, 3,700 were measured. In Zaki, 670 were measured; in Yehudiya, in the area of the waterfall, 840; and in Tzalmon, in the HaHaruv pool, 1,200.

Accordingly, the warning applies to the Banias at the Kfar Szold bridge, the Hasbani in the area of the confluence promenade, the section of the Jordan between the Yosef bridge and the Arik bridge, the Meshushim Pool, Jilabun, Zaki, Yehudiya, and the HaHaruv pool in Tzalmon.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection notes that at this stage, no known source of pollution has been identified. Routinely, sampling is carried out once every two weeks by inspectors of the Nature and Parks Authority at fixed points in the northern streams in the Upper Galilee, the Golan, and the Western Galilee.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection continue to conduct tests and monitor the water situation. The public is asked to check for updates on guidelines before arriving at water sites and to act in accordance with the authorities' instructions until the tests return to being normal and stable.