Javea Grapevine 336 | Page 57

Aquifers of 15 Marina Alta Towns contaminated by Nitrates List includes Xàbia Beniarbeig, Benidoleig, Benimeli, Dénia, Sagra, Ondara, Orba, Pedreguer, Pego, Ràfol d’Almúnia, Sanet i Negrals, Els Poblets, Tormos, El Verger and Xàbia are going to be included in a list prepared by the Ministry of the Environment on populations throughout the Community whose aquifers are contaminated by nitrates. Their problem is that the wells they use are “vulnerable to contamination by nitrates of agricultural origin”. They often exceed 50 milligrams of nitrate per litre, thus exceeding the maximum amount recommended by the WHO since 2004. This type of pollution occurs throughout the Comunitat. In the last list ssued by the Generalitat (2009), there were 215 affected municipalities; In the new one, which will be prepared shortly, there will be 266. About 24% more. The situation in Xàbia has been alleviated to some degree by use of the desalination plant. The most sensitive groups at risk for this type of contamination are infants fed only non-natural milk, pregnant women and people with gastric or natural hypochlorhydria. From La Marina Plaza.