The Health Ministry closed two Lake Kinneret beaches for swimming Sunday, after the Tiberias municipality pumped sewage into the area.

A malfunction at the city's pumping station caused sewage to flow into the lake for what the ministry says was roughly one hour, polluting the two beaches.

This is the second time in recent months that the city's sewage has flowed into the lake and polluted nearby beaches. The Health Ministry's national environmental health supervisor, Ze'ev Fisch, said Sunday morning that while only a small amount of sewage leaked into the lake, the beaches were closed pending laboratory test results expected Monday.

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Fisch called on the Tiberias municipality and other local authorities in the area to conduct ongoing and intensive maintenance of their sewage systems due to the repeated instances of sewage leaking into the lake.

"There have been two instances during a relatively short period of time," said Fisch. "The Kinneret is important not just for swimming and fun, but also as a water source."

According to Fisch, authorities must establish a protective system that will prevent such leaks from reoccurring.