The review shows that Malta is seriously deficient in sustainable water management.

Commenting on the report, AD’s environment spokesman Mark Causon said: “The report shows that both the quantity and the quality of groundwater are regressing. We could end up losing the precious fresh water aquifer underlying the Maltese Islands due to exploitation, wasteful use, and lack of protection from contamination.

“In order to control the unsustainable exploitation of this scarce resource, there should be stringent enforcement to curtail an unknown number of illegal boreholes.

This enforcement should also be strengthened in order to ensure that the water table is not polluted by industrial and agricultural activity. The promotion of organic agriculture would lessen the contamination of the water table.

“Unsustainable projects like the proposed Verdala golf course would also have a negative impact on this scarce resource. In a country where water is so scarce, it makes little sense to approve a project which needs an enormous quantity of water.

“In a communication sent to the Malta Environment Planning Authority in July 2001, the MRA requested further information on pesticide use at the proposed Verdala golf course.

On receiving that further clarification, in a letter dated June 2002 the MRA rejected the claim made in the Environmental Impact Assessment that ground water pollution could be mitigated. The EIA declaration that the golf course site is impermeable to surface infiltration was not accepted by the MRA.

“The MRA also questioned the EIA’s technical appendix on water which claimed “there is excess capacity in the public water supply”, replying that half the supply is produced by desalination at high economic and environmental cost while a sustainable ground water yield would imply reduced ground water abstraction volumes.

“AD backs these statements and calls for decision-makers to listen to the authorities set up to ensure that development progresses along a sustainable path. The National Commission for Sustainable Development should actively encourage capacity building within the MRA while backing the authority to establish a stronger and more influential role regarding high impact projects.

“An ongoing educational campaign is necessary to make people aware of the need to preserve water. The problem is being exacerbated with the wanton destruction of agricultural land which is significantly reducing surface absorption for rain water to make it into our aquifers, Mr Causon concluded.