The majority of water suppliers advertising in the Yellow Pages are selling potentially hazardous water extracted from boreholes not registered with the Public Health Department - and claiming it is fit to drink.
Only five of the 31 suppliers advertising the sale of water make use of boreholes that are registered and certified by the Public Health Department, according to the department's website.
As the government faces a chorus of disapproval over its new water and electricity rates, an exercise carried out by The Sunday Times showed that water supplies are being sold illegally at an average cost of just €26 for 15,000 litres or more.
Posing as a potential customer wanting to purchase water at reduced rates because of the increase in water tariffs, The Sunday Times called a number of bowser operators yesterday. Questions on whether the water was fit for consumption were met with reassurances that families of those supplying the water had consumed it all their lives.
Pressed on whether guarantees could be provided in spite of a lack of certification, one supplier went as far as saying: "The certificate is supplied by people. I have been distributing water for over 30 years and so far nobody has died."
A few of the local water suppliers, who are freely advertising water even though it is sourced illegally, displayed some hesitation when asked to confirm whether the water was fit for drinking, but suggested boiling to alleviate any concerns.
Paul Johnston, head of Greenpeace International's Science Unit, dismissed the notion that boiling water eliminates any hazards.
"The problem of nitrates doesn't go away with boiling the water, and it is a particular problem for young children," he said.
Nitrate levels exceed the EU standard at nine of 13 groundwater extraction boreholes operated by the Water Services Corporation, according to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's most recent 'State of the Environment' report.
The presence of nitrate in drinking water is linked to an increased risk of cancer according to scientific studies.
This was confirmed in a 2007 report published by the Greenpeace Science Unit at Exeter University that also cites several international studies to back the claim.
A University of Iowa study that probed cancer incidence among nearly 22,000 women suggests that even low level exposures to nitrate over many years could be problematic with certain types of cancer.
In Malta, the increase in the illegal extraction of water from boreholes is a cause for concern as more people are resorting to bowsers as this is cheaper than turning on the tap. Water theft has also increased along with rising prices, according to figures published by The Sunday Times last week.
Last year, 45 per cent of water came from groundwater sources, according to the WSC. However, tap water is a blend of groundwater and reverse osmosis water to ensure a nitrate level below 50 milligrams per litre, which is the standard set in the EU Water Framework Directive, the Malta Resource Authority said.
The highest nitrate concentration in the groundwater system was recorded at the Speranza pumping station, where the level increased from 103 mg/l in 2005 to 111 mg/l in 2006.
One of the main causes of high levels of nitrate in groundwater sources is the excessive use of fertiliser in agriculture, since boreholes are predominantly located in agricultural areas.
Farmers apply nitrogen fertilisers to increase plant yield, but too often these are applied in excessive quantities that are not taken up by the plant and end up in the soil. Due to the porous terrain the nitrates accumulate in underground aquifers.
Further threats to groundwater quality arise from unlawfully discharged substances and contamination from human and animal waste due to leaks from the sewerage system.
The list of water suppliers registered with the Public Health Department may be seen on the website www.sahha.gov.mt.
cmuscat@timesofmalta.com