The Water Services Corporation has submitted plans to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to undertake a €13 million project (part-funded by the EU) by means of which about eight million cubic metres of treated sewage (25% of the total amount of treated sewage) would be used as secondary water by industry and in the agriculture sector.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech visited the WSC’s new control room in Luqa yesterday, saying that the corporation can now manage water reserves in a better way, immediately identify problems in the distribution system, and coordinate the public’s requests for action in a better way.

He said the investment in the control room forms part of a series of important investments aimed at reducing the amount of wasted water. Over the last six years, the amount of water lost to the system went down from 21% to 14%.

WSC chief executive Marc Muscat stressed the importance that the corporation places on water safety and security, while ensuring that the price remains reasonable.

To commemorate World Water Day (which was yesterday) the WSC will be organising an open day on Saturday. The Pembroke reverse osmosis plant, the Ta’ Barkat sewage treatment plant, the Ta’ Kandja underground galleries, as well as the laboratory and the control room in Luqa will be open to the public between 9am and 4pm. Places are limited, so tickets will be issued from the WSC head office in Luqa on a first-come-first-served basis on the day.

71% believe chemical pollution is main threat to water environment

The results of a new Eurobarometer survey show that 71% of the Maltese believe that chemical pollution is the main threat to the water environment. The belief is widespread across Europe (84% of Europeans) and climate change was the next most commonly mentioned threat (55%), followed by changes to the water ecosystem (49%).

A similar survey was carried out in 2009, and since then, chemical pollution has been seen as a threat by increasing numbers in almost all countries.

The report on the results of the survey states that it is widely acknowledged that the quality and quantity of water available in Europe is an important issue.

In 2000 the EU adopted the Water Framework Directive, and progress has been made in adopting an integrated approach to freshwater management, with the goal of achieving ‘good status’ for all EU waters by 2015. Many countries across Europe have adopted River Basin Management Plans for 2009 - 2015 to better manage water resources.

The Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources is being developed as the EU’s policy response to the continuing challenge of delivering the EU’s water policy goals. The blueprint is a wide-ranging set of policy recommendations for future EU freshwater policy to appear later in 2012.

It draws on a range of ongoing assessments, including the River Basin management plans, and the EU Action on Water Scarcity and Drought. The blueprint will identify current gaps and future priorities and provide guidance to water policy development until 2020. It will also take advantage of analysis that integrates economic and climate modelling till 2050.

The Eurobarometer survey dealt with, among other subjects, the level of information about problems facing groundwater, lakes, rivers and coastal waters. Fewer than four out of 10 respondents feel well or very well informed (37%) about problems facing groundwater, lakes, rivers and coastal waters in their country. In Malta, 35% said they feel they weren’t well informed, while 28% said they feel they were not informed at all.

As for water quality problems being a serious issue, most respondents (68%) think that water quality problems are a serious issue. About 73% of respondents in Malta said they consider it to be a serious problem. Asked about the quality of groundwater, 38% of the Maltese respondents said they believe it has improved, 25% said they believe it has stayed the same, 26% said it has deteriorated, while 11% replied ‘don’t know’.

The Eurobarometer survey also showed that at least eight out of 10 respondents consider that pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture (90%) and household water consumption and waste water (85%) have an impact on the quality and quantity of water.

The majority of respondents in every country said that such agricultural chemicals have an impact on the status of water. This view is almost universal among respondents in Greece (97%), France and Slovenia (96%), but is less widespread in Estonia (66%) and Malta (76%). In fact, 22% of respondents in Estonia think that pesticides and fertilizers have no impact on the status of water.

On the price of water, more than eight out of 10 agree that water users should be charged for the volume of water they use. Just above six out of 10 respondents agree that the price of water should reflect the environmental impact of its use (61%). Respondents who think droughts are a serious issue are more likely to be in favour of this approach.

A majority of respondents in all countries agree with this idea, although agreement is least widespread in Hungary (51%) and Estonia (52%). In Malta, 53% agree that the price should reflect the environmental impact of water use, while 44% disagree.

The majority of Europeans also want the EU to propose additional measures on water issues. Around three-quarters (73%) of respondents think that the EU should propose additional measures to address water problems, and at least half would like to be able to express their views on these measures. However, 12% of respondents think that this is not an area of EU competence.

Of the Maltese respondents, 74% said they think the EU should propose additional measures to address water problems in Europe. About half of these respondents said however, that they would like to be able to express their views on such measures. Another 7% said they believe the current measures are enough, while 8% said this does not fall under the competence of the EU, and 11% replied ‘don’t know’.

Food production depends on water availability

Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino participated in an event in Bisazza Street, Sliema, which was held to mark World Water Day, whose theme this year was ‘Water and Food Security’.

The event formed part of the ‘Catch the Drop’ campaign that Mr Pullicino’s ministry set up last year. One of the main attractions of the campaign is the ‘Moving Drop’ – a large container in the shape of a drop that moves from one school to another.

Schools hosting the ‘Moving Drop’ organise activities related to the importance of water conservation, and children place messages in the container.

Yesterday morning’s event was aimed at raising awareness of those who lack food and water, as well as clean water. About 1.5 billion people around the world haven’t got access to clean water.