Is it signs of intoxification from natural water???

[MWP admin]

I was down at the bed of the valley called Wied Ilma, which is found to open at Dwejra (Inland Sea), Gozo. Down the bed, many of the flora had moderate to severe signs of shrivelled leaves and shoots. Even the strong arums and fennel were affected.

See photo below - it is a general view of what I have seen.



The question is what is causing these symptoms?? My first explanation that comes to mind is intoxification from dissolved products found in the water that runs through the valley. Such products could be either compounds that themselves are toxic. These might be contributed by the few quarries beside the valley (eg calcium waste products like cement or Lime) or by heavy use of pesticides in agriculture.

Another contribution could be a number of salts used in agriculture as fertilizers which run away and accumulate at the dam of the valley to high concentrations to become toxic.

No wonder that some sub-endemic plants and other delicate species which its habitat are valleys are becoming more and more rare - orchids, tulips, mints and iris to mention some examples.

How the Goverment and concerned organisation says that they want to safeguard the environment, if in this case there should be routine tests on the water in the valley and trace the source of any dangerous contaminats. Where EU and its legislations (hello!!?)


This particular valley suffered from considerable construction dumping (Eg 'mountains' of limestone bricks) probably coming from nearby quarries (who else!?). Controls and check?? absolute zero


Open to discussion





The photo is taken in December, so it could not be the scorching sun.