Water - the next crisis

It was interesting to note the Maltese people's concern about the future price of electricity (January 10). The introduction of the surcharge in January 2005 certainly prompted or cemented this fear.

What's interesting is the fact that the same concerns are not expressed for water - certainly another essential service. Potable water in Malta remains surprisingly inexpensive, even though more than half of our potable water supply is directly tied to the cost of electricity through desalination.

While appreciating the efforts of the Water Services Corporation in trying to keep the cost of production as low as possible, the current situation is simply untenable. The output from the desalination plants will have to increase to replace fast-deteriorating groundwater supplies; EU regulations on potable water quality will be an additional cost burden, and the amount of water that may be saved through leakage control will eventually peter out.

Malta has one of the lowest naturally-available-water-per-capita ratios in the world (even less than Libya and Egypt); desalination already makes up for 55 per cent of our potable water supply (and increasing); one-third of our economic activity depends on unregulated water supplies (boreholes and transportation by water bowsers); Malta may be one of the few countries in the developed world that has no sewerage tariff; our aquifers are being depleted at a deplorable rate and will be rendered useless within our lifetime. Need I continue?

I sincerely believe that water will follow close on the heels of electricity as our next national crisis. Yet where's the national debate on the matter? This country still awaits its first national Water Policy, reportedly completed in late 2004 but since then kept under wraps within the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure. Given that partisan politics takes precedence over the national interest, it is unlikely to see the light of day before the next election.

The only way to avert this crisis is to act now. Not to do so would be grossly irresponsible. I call on the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure to publish the Water Policy immediately and spearhead a national discussion on the matter before it's too late. Although, frankly, it already is.