Government announces measures to protect the water table
The government has published legal notices providing that no new boreholes may be drilled for ground water extraction and all boreholes which have not been already registered with the authorities have to be registered within a month.
Resources Minister George Pullicino said Malta needed to protect its ground water and give the water table time to recharge itself. It was estimated that ground water would be sustainable if extraction did not exceed 23 million cubic metres annually, yet that number was being exceeded by 11 million cubic metres every year.
He warned that all those who did not register their boreholes within a month would be liable for a fine of between €9,300 and €18,600 in terms of a law enacted in 1997. Registering a borehole did not mean an automatic right to extract groundwater, the minister said.
Furthermore, no new boreholes may be drilled without prior permission from the Malta Resources Authority.
For the time being, however, no new permits would be granted until the situation was assessed and the water table was allowed to re-establish itself.
Anyone drilling boreholes illegally would be liable for a fine of between €20,000 and €50,000 and equipment would be confiscated.
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mario farrugia
Nov 21st 2008, 20:44
God blessed this island (us) with two things - SUN & WATER. We should be smart, and use them both to the maximum. The Europeans have water flowing in rivers - we have it underground. I concider myself lucky becouse i have one, which i recently registered. I use it for agriculure and i assure you that the saying we use in the south make sence ' l-ilma ragel !!'
Please don't panic - let's all agree that this is a blessing. If the you want to put up a meter - ok - do it - if it gets expensive we just close it down and we get our veg from the EU.
e.bartolo
Oct 8th 2008, 10:18
For the information of the public:
The yearly recharge into the mean sea level aquifer is around 12cm per year. This is because, rainwater is lost by evaporation, by valleys leading to the sea and transpiration. Moreover, a disturbed aquifer needs centuries to re-establish equilibrium; as far as I know, it takes around 300 - 500 years!
Henrik Piski
Oct 8th 2008, 08:50
Private boreholes should be regulated by the Malta Resources Authority. Water meters should be put to these boreholes and the owner should pay according to their water extraction. All water transport should be closely monitored, water transport licenses should be issued. It is unacceptable and irresponsible that the private water extraction is uncontrolled since many years.
Louis Gatt
Oct 8th 2008, 06:23
Well done Minister for the new measures protecting the water table. This is certainly a step in the right direction. But one thing bothers me: how will those (who already have an illegal borehole) who do not register be checked? Will this be a case of the 'good guys' pay while the 'not so good guys' endulge in their free water feast? The fines applicable to law breakers are not real deterrents as they are to little.
V Fenech
Oct 7th 2008, 23:24
Hope that the Government will not change its route in 5 years time, as we are bored with these talkative exhibitions that tends to remain on paper.
Patrick Vella
Oct 7th 2008, 21:42
Well done
Its better late than never
e.bartolo
Oct 7th 2008, 21:17
At last!!!
That should have been issued more than ten years ago! As things stand, the yearly recharge is not enough to sustain the amount of water being pumped from the mean sea level aquifers. As far as I know, the limit is 45% of the yearly recharge.
For the information of the public, the mean sea level aquifer, is a body of fresh water in the form of a lens which floats on salty water. Contrary to the belief of many, the origin of this water, is rainwater, that precolated through the ground from past rain. Excessive pumping by inexperienced people, can ruin the very delicate balance and cause upconing of the brackish water which lies under the freshwater lens.
The mean sea level aquifer is a common good: Government you have the duty to protect it from selfish explotation.
Schembri Ray
Oct 7th 2008, 21:17
Last week I received a new version of Yellow Pages. Has Mr Pullicino received one? If one looks for water supplies, he might be surprised by the ammount of adverts that suppliers for fresh water exist. Can at least take control of these suppliers who are selling our water?
Second point is that everytime it rains, a lot of rain water is wasted to the sea. Is there going to be any project to collect this water and then used elswere? Today one can easily do an underground reservior with the type of machinery we have.
charles cassar
Oct 7th 2008, 21:07
And about time too. And what about the water which has been stolen.? Will they be made to pay for it?
I Abela
Oct 7th 2008, 21:00
Now thats some serious deterrent. Finally the minister got 1 right. Prosit.
Joe Borg
Oct 7th 2008, 20:55
these are the measures that i want... strong hands with the abusers.. not with the honest tax payer!
A.Bartolo
Oct 7th 2008, 20:41
About time, everybody who has a mind knows that water being pumped out from Boreholes belongs to all residents in Malta, of course through the Goverment.
It is a shame that to drink suitable water it has to be bought in PLASTIC BOTTLES!!!
J. Borg
Oct 7th 2008, 20:29
Finally Pullicino woke up! Better late than never....