Without public warning: toxic pesticides dumped into the sea
The Water Authority took an unusual step and dumped dangerous pesticides from the air at a dosage 27 times higher than the standard, a short distance from declared beaches, and the health implications for the public and fishing in the area are now being examined.
The first report by Matan Hodorov on Channel 13 News reveals an unusual and concerning action by the Water Authority. Yesterday, the government body initiated the dumping of a large quantity of toxic pesticides directly into the sea. This step was taken in an attempt to combat the algae phenomenon, which is disabling and endangering the regular operation of desalination plants in the area.
According to the report, the operation was carried out using a combination of three different chemical preparations, including copper sulfate in extremely high dosages, up to 27 times the permitted standard. These are harsh and dangerous substances, and direct or indirect contact with them could cause severe health and environmental damage.
The chemical spraying was carried out using a plane from the Chimavir company along a stretch of about 9 kilometers. The chemical payload was dumped at a distance of only one kilometer from the coastline opposite Ashkelon, and only a few kilometers from Zikim Beach, a popular beach used for swimming.
Equally serious is the fact that the entire move was defined as an experiment, yet it was carried out in a rush. The relevant and authorized bodies were not notified in advance, and the Water Authority refrained from issuing any warning to the general public. The environmental and health implications of the incident are now being examined, in particular the safety of fishing and the consumption of fish caught in the area.
