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Eilat beach
Photo: AFP
Photo: Joe Kot
Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevi
Photo: Joe Kot

Sewage leaks shut Eilat beaches

Environment and Interior Ministries close resort city's beaches after sewage leakages blamed on ageing sewage system

All of Eilat's beaches have been closed to the public after large quantities of sewage spilled into the sea, authorities said Saturday.

 

Swimming will be forbidden for at least three days, officials said, adding that high-levels of pollutants identified in the sea were hazardous to humans, coral reefs and wildlife.

 

A malfunction in the city's sewage system prompted leakages in a couple of spots along the coast.


Beach in Eilat deserted after spill (Photo: Yossi Dos-Santos)

 

In a statement, the municipal sewage cooperation, Ein Netafim, said that about 500 square meters of sewage spilled into the sea when a main pipe in the sewage system burst.

 

The Interior Ministry’s decision to close all of Eilat’s beaches followed a recommendation by the Environment Ministry. “The sewage that spilled into Eilat’s waters has polluted all of the beaches and puts public health at risk,” Interior Ministry officials said.

 

"There is a real danger of contracting illnesses such as meningitis as well as infections in the eyes and the respiratory system," the Environment Ministry said in a statement.

 

Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevi said he took the matter very seriously. “I consider the sea a main resource to the city, and we will proceed with that in mind,” he said.

 

“Recently, we have worked a lot on preventing the spill of sewage into the sea, and we have upgraded 13 pumping stations at the cost of tens of millions of shekels,” the mayor added.

 

'Eilat nothing without beach'

The incident is set to deal a blow to the tourism industry in the resort city where hotels expect thousands of reservations will be cancelled.

 

David Kalifa, who arrived at Eilat’s northern beach with his sister and three children Saturday morning, was surprised and disappointed when the lifeguard on duty announced that bathing was prohibited.

 

“Without the beach, there’s no point in coming to Eilat,” Kalifa said. “As far as we’re concerned, there are no other alternatives. We come to Eilat mainly for the beaches. If they’re closed, for three days according to the announcement, then we’ll just go home.”

 

The sewage spill is also expected to affect the city’s aquatic attractions. Guy Alon, of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority explained that damage to the city’s coral reel caused by the spill would not be instant, but would be long lasting.

 

“We know the coral reef is already not in the best shape, and what has happened is yet another blow that weakens it,” Alon said.

 

This is the third such incident in the city this year. An Interior Ministry official said 2007 had been disastrous for Israel's beaches with over 40 incidents of dangerous pollutions registered so far. The official blamed most incidents on ageing municipal sewage systems.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.29.07, 08:18
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