Malta increasingly relying on desalination water

To mark World Water Day yesterday, the National Statistics Office yesterday published information on the water supply in the Maltese islands, by means of pumping stations, boreholes, springs, and desalination plants.

The data indicate that water production from desalination plants between 2001 and 2003 amounted to 56.9 per cent, followed by pumping stations (26.4 per cent), boreholes (16.6 per cent) and springs (0.1 per cent) for the island of Malta. Water production for Gozo is mainly derived from groundwater sources by means of borehole abstraction, which is the source for 91 per cent of the total water abstraction for the region. Only nine per cent is produced by pumping stations. But an average of 251,449 cubic metres of water is pumped from Malta to Gozo to meet the increase in demand for water in Gozo during the summer months.

Between 2001 and 2003, the average water production from desalination plants amounted to 18 million cubic metres. The table shows that water production by desalination process is on the increase.

The domestic sector absorbs the highest consumption share, followed by the touristic, industrial, government and commercial sectors.

Water demand increased gradually up to 1997, when a total of 21 million cubic metres was consumed. A drop in consumption was registered in 1998 and in 2001, when consumption amounted to 17.2 million cubic metres and 18 million cubic metres respectively.