Water essentials

Like so many other things, water is something we in Malta take very much for granted, as something that will always be there, forever, in sufficient quantity for all our needs. In reality, however, there is a limited supply, and yet we waste it, contaminate it, steal it, and ill-treat it, as though it is, and will be here forever. But I will get back to this later.

Some time ago I was present at a very interesting talk on Water Essentials In Malta by Gordon Knox, when he explained very clearly the serious situation we are in with regard to the continued availability of fresh water in Malta and Gozo. In fact, he explained it so clearly he scared the pants off me. With my limited knowledge of the subject, I will try to explain exactly why.

Our only natural source of fresh water is obtained from groundwater reservoirs lying under our rocks and soil. We have about 0.5 metres of rain each year, which replenishes this source. We therefore recharge our reserves with about 22-35 million cubic metres per annum, depending on wet or dry years.

There is a large natural wastage and these underground aquifers are reducing in size each year at an alarming rate.

If we take an average water extraction from our aquifers of 16 million cubic metres per annum, and if we take an estimated need of 57 million cubic metres per annum for a population of 400,000, then it can be seen that we have enough natural supply of water to serve a population of about 100,000!

Apart from a static population of 400,000 we also have a tourist influx of about 1,200,000 a year.

Where do we get the rest of our water from?

Reverse osmosis production is presently running at 17 million cubic metres a year, but this method of water production is getting more and more expensive each year as the price of energy goes up.

We collect rainwater in wells.

We import virtual water, which is water utilised in the production of agricultural and industrial produce. Malta imported about 640 million cubic metres a year of virtual water in the period 1997-2001.

We reclaim water suitable for agriculture from our waste water and products.

Our indirect water supply is the prevention of leakages from pipelines, and Malta has made great strides in this direction over the past few years.

From this short analysis it can be seen that it costs a fortune to get water into Malta, either from underground or from the sea, or from indirect imports, and this cost is going up every day. It is also very obvious that there are smaller and smaller reserves of natural water underneath our islands.

What is the present situation and what are we, as a population, doing about it?

First, there are 16 million cubic metres per annum of water extracted from metred boreholes.

There are an estimated 17 million cubic metres a year extracted from non-metred boreholes. In other words, there are millions of cubic metres of our fresh water stolen each year.

Mepa rules and regulations lay down that all houses and flats should have a well of a certain size in order to save up water. This regulation is ignored in the vast majority of cases, especially in apartment blocks.

With more and more roads built all over our islands, there are less and less areas from where the rain water can seep through the ground and enter the aquifers.

There are millions of cubic metres of fresh water wasted each winter as rivers of water rush down our roads and vanish into the sea. Maybe EU funds could be utilised to create huge catchments where the water gathers and then have this pumped up to water reservoirs on high ground. We use water and waste it as though it is never going to finish, and, still, our domestic water prices are extremely reasonable.

What can and should we do?

Can we reduce our population? Hardly likely.

We could cut aquifer production to sustainable levels, and increase reverse osmosis production in the short term. This will be expensive if oil prices are high but would be an option if the price of oil falls.

We could ensure that all run-off rainwater is collected and that all Mepa regulations are adhered to, and not ignored just to save money.

We could take punitive measures to penalise high usage while, at the same time, being socially sensitive.

Private borehole consumption should be metred, monitored and charged. There should be full registration of all boreholes and their production.

We should prosecute and penalise water robbery.

We have to recycle wastewater, for agriculture and, maybe, domestic use too.

We must prevent pipeline leakages.

There must be water saving practices in hotels, at home, in industry, and in agriculture.

There need to be policies across the board that encourage water saving.

There should be education campaigns and legislation to change the culture from water wasting to water saving and conservation.

Imagine if we carried on regardless, and became totally dependent on reverse osmosis plants, and our fuel supply was cut or hindered or restricted for whatever reason. I think that would be quite a frightening situation. In fact, it would be a nightmare.