MEPA heeds experts’ warning on Ghajn Zejtuna sewage pipes

The enforcement order was issued against Cenmed Ltd, the company which owns the Santa Marija Estate, in Mellieha.

The enforcement order comes in the wake of a report by biologists Jeffrey and Arnold Sciberras, which denounced the installation of sewage pipes directly over the valley’s riverbed.

The two biologists claimed that the development is resulting in severe damage on both the surrounding areas because storm water is no longer able to seep harmlessly into the riverbed. Instead, it is rushing downstream in aggressive torrents which could erode banks on the riverbed further downstream.

Even mature trees could be uprooted and caused to topple over. Damage to the sewage pipes could also create havoc as raw sewage starts to flow down the valley into the other, as yet untouched, areas of the riverbed.

The report also expressed concern about the future of the fresh water crab, which is known to inhabit the valley. Due to the various modifications of the valley, storm water is rushing down the riverbed towards the sea much more aggressively, carrying with it a great deal of debris, including loose stones.

This could crush the crustaceans, and may even wash away their burrows altogether.

MEPA has recently confirmed its decision to designate the Ghajn Zejtuna water as an area of ecological importance, thus prohibiting any development apart from the maintenance of existing structures.