The Environmental Protection Ministry cited Ashdod’s sewage treatment plant as the reason for Yavne residents' complaints of bad smells, burning eyes, and difficulty breathing, Maariv reported Sunday.
An air-monitoring station in Yavne recorded high levels of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide, which smells of rotting eggs, is toxic to humans and can lead to death if inhaled. While normal levels of the compound are at 10 parts-per-million (ppm), levels above 50 ppm can lead to eye damage, while levels above 100 ppm can be fatal quickly.
Along with the complaints, data from the semi-hourly air monitoring station and from an Ashdod-Yavne Environmental Protection Union rapid response team helped officials confirm that the odor originated from a fault at Ashdod’s municipal sewage treatment plant (STP).
Sewage entering facility causes malfunction
According to Maariv, a joint ministry-STP investigation into the complaint revealed a “significant malfunction” in the site’s biological treatment system, caused by prohibited sewage entering the facility.
Further, the ministry urged the STP management to quickly find a solution due to the seriousness of the breach, even though everyone affected is reported to be in a mild condition. Additionally, Mayor of Yavne Roei Gabay reportedly spoke to Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman and the ministry’s Southern District director.
The operators will submit a report to the ministry when the STP returns to normal operations, detailing the measures taken to prevent future incidents.
The Environment and Climate Change portal is produced in cooperation with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Jerusalem Post maintains all editorial decisions related to the content.
