Ground water

I refer to the front page article Ground Water Under Threat (January 31).

The Water Services Corporation would like to clarify two points:

The report stated: "... in 2004, nitrate levels at two-thirds of Water Services Corporation boreholes exceeded levels laid down in the EU's Nitrate Directive. Chloride levels in the mean sea level aquifer system all exceeded quality standards stipulated by the World Health Organisation."

In order to clear any misunderstanding, we would like to point out that the corporation no longer supplies consumers with water directly from boreholes. We wish to reassure consumers that the water supplied is strictly monitored, tested and blended with reverse osmosis water. This process dilutes nitrate levels substantially and results in a water blend that conforms to EU standards.

The report also claimed that "water consumption rose by eight per cent between 1998 and 2004." Although this is correct as regards water consumed by end users, in actual fact, the WSC reduced the "total system demand" for potable water from just over 40 million cubic metres per annum to around 31.4 million cubic metres in 2005 - a reduction of some 21.5 per cent.

So although more water was demanded by an increasing population and other factors, a relentless leak detection and repair exercise carried out by the corporation was so successful that it countered any increase in demand, which led to a decrease in production.

Those interested may view the corporation's annual report at www.wsc.com.mt/about_reports.shtml