(haipo) The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection report unusual results from water sampling conducted in streams in the north of the country on June 14, 2026. The tests found levels of bacterial contamination that exceed recommendations, and the ministries warn travelers and local authorities that entering these streams may be dangerous.
High pollution levels in several streams and ponds in the north
The samples taken contained concentrations of fecal bacteria that exceed the Ministry of Health's recommendations, which are 400 fecal coliforms in 100 ml of water.
Among the sites where anomalies were found:
- Hatzbani Stream – in the North Garden area
- The Jordan River – at the Lehavot Bashan Bridge, the Yosef Bridge, the Hamishia Bridge, the Hepak Bridge and at Masad Ateret
- The hexagon pool
- Jilbon Stream – at Deborah Waterfall
- In the Zaki River
- Nahal El Al
- Nahal Tzalmon – in the carob pond and the flour millet
- In the Mustard Eye
Public warning: Entering the rivers is dangerous until further notice
In light of these results, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are warning that entry into the streams may be dangerous until future sampling results are normal and stable. The streams and sites where entry is prohibited include the Hatzbani Stream from Magen HaTzafon to the Confluence of the Streams Promenade, the Jordan River from Gesher Yosef to Masad Ateret, the Meshusim Pool, the Jilbon Stream, the Zaki Stream, the El Al Stream, the Tzalmon Stream in the area of the Carob Pool and Flour Mill, and Ein Hadalit. The Ministry of Environmental Protection notes that no known source of contamination has been found in these streams.
Routine sampling and ongoing monitoring – some points were not sampled due to the security situation
Sampling is routinely carried out once every two weeks by inspectors from the Nature and Parks Authority, at fixed sampling points in the northern streams – in the Upper Galilee, the Golan and the Western Galilee. The points represent waterfalls, pools or sections of streams. It should be noted that the sampling points in the Ayun Stream near the Lebanese border and in Hatzbani, the Roman Bridge, were not sampled due to the security situation. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection emphasize that they are continuing sampling and monitoring and will update the public as necessary. The quarterly sampling results for the streams sampled in Israel can be viewed on the Ministry of Health website.
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