The Malta Resources Authority has warned that tankers used to carry water are to be registered or owners will face legal action.

The warning forms part of the government's efforts to crack down on illegal borehole drilling and water transport.

Extraction of groundwater is estimated at about 34 million cubic metres a year, 11 million cubic metres more than the MRA's recommendations for sustainable extraction.

Last year the government published legal notices providing that no new boreholes can be drilled for groundwater extraction and all unregistered boreholes have to be registered.

Replying to a parliamentary question last month, Resources Minister George Pullicino said 2,643 boreholes were registered.

In a statement the authority said that, according to a legal notice, all water tankers have to register. These include tankers used for the transportation of water, including wastewater, seawater, storm water run-off, trade effluent, ground water and wholesome water.

Registrations are to be submitted by the owner or legal representative and should include all the particulars and specifications of the water tanker including the model of the vehicle, engine and chassis number, the capacity and classification of water transported.

Owners of trailer-tankers should submit technical details relevant to the trailer as required by the Transport Authority for issue of the road licence.

The registration of water tankers involves an administration cost of €69.88, paid to the Malta Resources Authority.

A copy of the application form can be downloaded from the website www.mra.org.mt.