Kurt Sansone
Water leakages halved in six years
While water leakages from the distribution network in Malta were halved over a six year period, the leakages in the sister island increased by six per cent. Last year 4.9 million cubic metres were lost in the distribution network in Malta, 51 per cent less than the almost 10 million cubic metres lost in 2002.
The effort by the Water Services Corporation to curb leakages was less successful in Gozo, where they increased from 416,100 cubic metres in 2002 to 440,881 cubic metres last year.
The figures were published by the National Statistics Office on the occasion of World Water Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow.
The NSO statistics also show that the amount of groundwater extracted by the WSC increased over the last two years while water produced by reverse osmosis plants decreased.
Groundwater extraction by the WSC had been on a downward trend since 2000. But in 2008 just over 14 million cubic metres of water were extracted, which represented an increase of almost 120,000 cubic metres over 2007.
However, it was still a far cry from the 18.6 million cubic metres extracted in 2000, the only year when groundwater production exceeded that produced by reverse osmosis plants.
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Anthony Magri
Mar 23rd 2009, 16:26
Referring to water reserves, bore holes natural water extracted from the subsoil. From where water bottling plants makig an unaccounted amount of water and selling it at an exhorbitant price do they get their water. Are they perhaps extracting it from natural water bore holes. In that case they are robbing it at everybody expense since there is no licenced bore hole water extractor. And the authorities turn a nelson's eye on what is evident.
JF Vassallo Ebejer
Mar 21st 2009, 12:04
We have a Government which is so sharp and cutting-edge that it invested millions of Euros in a sewage cleaning plant – but rather than recycling, we will be simply dumping it into the sea.
Israel recycles 75% of its sewage by cleaning it and using the cleaned water for agriculture, thanks to which it has a thriving agricultural industry in a very arid land. Within the next few years the Israelis will be increasing the volume they recycle to more than 90%....
It would also be interesting to know why leakages in Gozo have increased – is it because maintenance there is poor, or because of increased theft?
Robert Scullion
Mar 21st 2009, 11:38
@L.Galea
How about congratulating the WSC and its staff for reducing water leakages in the last 6 years, and hope that they can do the same in Gozo in the coming years?
L..Galea
Mar 21st 2009, 10:04
How about trying to save as much rainwater as possible so that it filters to the water table?
How about repairing Wied il-Qlejja and increasing its level where possible and making similar projects in other areas?
How about making as many reservoirs as possible even if simply to hold rainwater until it percolates to the water table?
Projects which will provide employment while being built and providing a source of an indispensable requirement for life.