Group demands warning signs at polluted beach

The beach known as Hof Hatzuk has been closed to swimmers for the past three months by order of the Health Ministry.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
The beach known as Hof Hatzuk has been closed to swimmers for the past three months by order of the Health Ministry, but the Tel Aviv Municipality has failed to put up proper signs to warn beach-goers away and has done nothing to treat the pollution at the site, according to the Tzalul environmental organization. As the weather warms up and people begin heading for the beaches, the organization has written to the city demanding that it take action and place prominent warning signs at the polluted beach, reports www.local.co.il. According to the report, the Health Ministry closed Hof Hatzuk several months ago after discovering high concentrations of fecal bacteria in the water, washed there from the nearby Herzliya waste purification plant. Tzalul said the city had not advertised the closure, despite being required to do so by law, had not put up prominent warning signs at the site, and had not done anything about treating the waste in the water. A municipal spokesman said the city was well aware of the pollution problem and had placed a warning sign with a black flag in the area. "Nevertheless, the size of the sign and its placement will be checked again," the spokesman said. He did not say what, if anything, would be done about treating the waste.