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Wied Ghajn Zejtuna
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Wied Għajn Żejtuna is one of the very few valleys on the Maltese Islands which is densely covered by vegetation and where fresh water flows all year round. Unfortunately, a lot of damage has already been inflicted on this natural site. Storm water has been diverted from asphalted roads onto the river bed slopes and this resulted in a massive erosion of soil banks. Alpine trees, with very wide trunks, that were over 30 years old have been uprooted and toppled by this erosion. Furthermore, old walls are now collapsing due to lack of maintenance and dumping of domestic waste is on the rise. Debris is accumulating, and illegal camping is becoming regular. The valley’s fauna ranges from Arthropods to Mammals, such as the Green Whip snake, which is ecologically important for controlling the valley’s rats, and the North African hedgehog, which finds the valley a good refuge. Thus, by protecting the valley, one would also be safeguarding a healthy ecosystem which allows for biodiversity. One cannot stress enough the necessity of giving the valley urgent protection in order to continue being an essential habitat for all species before it is too late. Should there be development plans for this area, one should respect the importance of sustainable development although, ideally, this site would not be given permission for more development to take place.
How come farms are destroyed?
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Although environment awareness has increased: more Bring-in-Sites placed in cities and villages, recycling and also education on having a clean environment but still we have a lot more to improve. As time goes by more and more farms are being ruined because of waste or else by construction of houses. More houses are being built since population is increasing, but we need farms to have fresh local food, which helps in our economy. Also with the increase of population, pollution increase because of waste products. But aren’t children and youths taught about a cleaner environment? Of course, most of them are, this shows that it is not only children who need education but also the older generation. In the photo below the Bring-in-Sites have no bottom. How did this happen is impossible to find but what we can ask is: after all this education and awareness how can something like this be ignored?
Is it time to seriously consider the water-energy nexus?
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This article aims to make the reader aware of the amount of energy used to produce water by the process of reverse osmosis in dry countries like Malta. It also investigates the ways in which energy is conserved during this process and gives sugestions to readers on how to save water in order to save energy.
Read MoreWater – An Existence
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A dam is a barrier that impounds water and is constructed from a variety of materials such as rock, wood, steel and concrete. It serves the primary purpose of retaining water, to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions and furthermore to collect water or for storage of water which can be evenly distributed between locations. The picture shows the Chadwick Lakes water reservoir filled to the brim after heavy rainfall. This early dam system was constructed in 1886 under the direction of Sir Oswald Chadwick with the intention of using this magnificent resource in a more sustainable manner.

Water: An Essence, An Existence and An Essential
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The world would be a desolate, motionless and unresponsive place without its existence. Man-kind would endure a great deal. This article takes a look at this incredible resource and its preservation throughout the ages.
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