Of particular concern is the effect that pesticides and herbicides used on hazelnut plantations will have on local drinking water. Tuscia has two large souces of water, the lakes of Lago di Vico, and the largest volcanic crater lake in Europe, - Lago di Bolsena.
Lago di Vico
Since as far back as 2008 it has been known that the water quality around Lago di Vico has been contaminated and unsuitable for human consumption. Research has shown high levels of red algae, a cyanobacterium called Plankthotrix rubescens. This produces a microcystin which is harmful to human health, flora and fauna, and classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer -IARC- as a class carcinogen 2b.by algae bloom.
Lago di bolsena
A new very worrying report has been released on the state of water in Lake Bolsena. The headline is that the level of Phosphorus, the crucial nutrient responsible for algae growth, has increased to its highest value ever at 17 µg / l
