A report published by a non-government organisation – The Today Public Policy Institute – highlights the urgent need to address Malta’s water-related growing problem.
Martin Scicluna director general of the institute said that Malta is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world and is in dire need of a national water plan.
Ground water reserves, he continued, are being depleted as a consequence of human related unregulated activities.
The report - whose lead authors are retired World Bank expert Lee Roberts, hydrologist Marco Cremona and retired Royal Dutch Shell geologist Gordon J. Knox - is titled ‘Why Malta’s national water plan requires an analytical policy framework’.
Speaking during the launch of the report, Prof Scicluna said that coincidentally, today is the 400th anniversary of the construction of the Wignacourt aquaduct – which brought water to Valletta which relieved great pressure on those living in Valletta 400 years ago.
He noted that that the general public remains poorly informed and educated on domestic water issues.
Most aquifers contaminated with nitrates – local hydrologist
Mr Cemona said that Malta’s status is not good in terms of aquifers, despite its commitment with the EU to get its natural water quality improved by this year since the majority of aquifers are contaminated with nitrates. However, he did say that Malta has asked for an extension of its commitment but it not yet clear whether it has been granted the extension.
Malta embarked on projects with the absence of a plan - Cremona
Asked by The Malta Independent whether the National Water Flood Relief programme should help partially solve the issue, Mr Cremona said that the country has embarked on projects with the absence of a plan.
“10 years ago we joined the EU and we still don’t have a national water plan which would indicate to us where we will be in 20 years time in terms of the water situation.
“The project you mention takes us away from a sustainable solution. It reduces the incentive for government to ensure cisterns are built in each household as required by law.
“We are suggesting a holistic approach towards water, social scientists, lawyers you name it,” he said.
As for water tariffs, Mr Cremona said that it is not clear yet how water tariffs are calculated and how the figures related to consumption are determined.
Cremona says procrastination of borehole meter installations probably ‘intentional’
He said that the private borehole meters have not yet all been installed, despite a commitment made five years ago. He was speaking in the context that it is not known how much water Malta consumes as a whole, except how much is consumed domestically. The main issue is that there are registered and non-registered boreholes, thus the reason for this.
Mr Cremona said that every government feels uncomfortable clamping down on unregistered borehole owners, and therefore he said he feels the procrastination by governments in ensuring meters are fitted is “intentional”.
Prof Scicluna meanwhile said that we are facing a water crisis and the future does not hold good prospects unless the issue is addressed.
“All three political parties committed themselves before the last election to the production of a long overdue national water plan – one on which there should be consensus between the three parties because of its vital importance to our very survival as a country,” he said.
Dr Knox said that the levels of nitrates in drinking water are permissable by EU standards when asked whether nitrates can cause health problems.