Agriculture sector used 19.1m cubic metres of groundwater in a year
The agricultural sector in the year between September 15, 2008 and September 14, 200 extracted 19.1 million cubic metres of groundwater - some seven million cubic metres more than the Water Services Corporation.
The figures were presented this morning after a study by the National Statistics Office. Today is International Water Day.
NSO officials told a press conference this morning that the year of the review had been characterised by unusually high temperatures and low rainfall.
The agricultural sector gets almost all its water from groundwater extraction.The survey was the first of its kind by the NSO focusing on the needs of the agricultural sector.
Resources Minister George Pullicino said last week that groundwater extraction would be metered so that the authorities could have a clear picture of the amount of extraction.
Marco Cremona, an engineer specialised in hydrology, told a conference on sustainable environment last year that Malta needed to reduce its dependence on aquifers.
"We're extracting far more water from the aquifer than is going in. Since the aquifer is at sea level, the fresh water we extract is being replaced with salt water," Mr Cremona said.
He pointed towards a graph showing water production from boreholes over the last 11 years. "If we extrapolate this, we might end up with no fresh water in the aquifer by the next 15 years."
In a statement today, PL environment spokesman Leo Brincat said better recognition was needed of water as a strategic resource. Mr Brincat said government studies should consider climate change projections which pointed to significant reductions in both the volume and quality of water.
17 Comments
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R.Zammit
Mar 22nd 2010, 15:58
Does the study mention whether any of the water extracted for agriculture, finds its way back into the aquifer?
Is MEPA enforcing the buiding regulation that all dwellings (and I would add even business premesis) must have a well?
R.Zammit
Mar 22nd 2010, 15:53
All the more reason to invest in turning sewage into 2nd class water.
The first thing that needs to be done is to ensure that our drainage systems do not overflow onto our streets after each downpour. That way, much can be done to save runoff water that is not contaminated. A house to house inspection exercise must be done. This is a long term solution.
An excersise regulating and enforcing roof run-off needs to be in place so that in the long term, (free) rain water can be utilised to top up water tabe using various ways. But first, it must not be contaminated with sewage.
Bernard Mamo
Mar 22nd 2010, 15:12
Onor. Pullicinio, PLEASE, start giving out the second class water from xghajra's new drainage plant to farmers, instead of pumping it out to sea. Just imagine what a great impact that will make!
P. Farrugia
Mar 22nd 2010, 14:27
Article states how much has been extracted. So why it "would be metered so that the authorities could have a clear picture of the amount of extraction"? Do we have a clear picture? Are the figures correct or a wild biased guess?
P. Farrugia
Mar 22nd 2010, 14:06
How was it calculated? What is the precentage error?
Michael Pace
Mar 22nd 2010, 13:35
Three hundred millimetres of rainfall over 316 square kilometres give about 95 million cubic metres of water. Of course, there's no way to retrieve all of it. But if we manage a third (more than 30 million cubic metres in a dry, 300 mm rainfall year) it's still just about the sum of agriculture's 19.1 million cu.m. and WSC's 12 million; and that's letting 65 million cubic metres go to waste. And even with increasing drought, average rainfall in Malta is nearer 500 mm (dry 2009-2010 already reaches 376mm). Am I being realistic, or is there a serious flaw in my calculations that I have not noticed?
PS: The 376 mm of rain since September 1 add up to nearly 120,000,000 cubic metres. How much has managed to reach the water table?
Marco Cremona
Mar 22nd 2010, 13:04
The problem is one of water governance.
Successive governments have closed their eyes to this abuse (or rather 'theft' if you consider that Malta's groundwater BELONGS TO EVERYBODY and not those who were/are cheeky enough to pump it up for free for years on end and are still pumping more than ever today).
We know there is blatant over-abstraction. Why do we have to wait another couple of years to meter all the boreholes (those we know about!) and THEN start to devise policies that may START to address this massive problem?
This country has the highest water competitivity index (lowest amount of water per capita) IN THE WORLD. Are we addressing this problem with the urgency it deserves?
We only talk about the energy problem and about alternative energy as (part of) the solution.
What about alternative sources of water? What about the recycling of treated sewage for use in agriculture and/or groundwater recharge? What about the re-use of stormwater? And worst of all, what about enforcing the centuries-old law of building cisterns in all buildings???
The solutions are there for all to see...... why are we not making the slightest attempt to address this life-threatening problem?
frans van avendonk
Mar 22nd 2010, 12:47
re lgalea's remark that a well should hold 2 years of rainfall is of course nonsense when the water is used in the household for toilet flushing and clothes washing instead of precious drinking water a much smaller size will do. At the beginning of summer my reservoir would be nearly empty as the rain water that fell from september was used during the winter period. Of course all depends on roof surface area and number of people living under that roof using the water!
M Tabone
Mar 22nd 2010, 12:29
Unfortunately solutions tend to emerge when the situation becomes pressing and critical. Second class water, if suitable, should be fully utilized by farmers – TURNING WASTE INTO A RESOUCES RATHER THAN WASTING A RESOURCE. While condemning abuses we need to be sensible; most of the farmers extract water because it’s a necessity and surely not because they enjoy doing so. If there’s a shock and agricultural water start being metered and billed probably there will be an off-shoot in the price of the crops. Using second class water for free (or at very low price) is a win-win situation for all. Last week, it was announced that this will be part and parcel of the Eco-Gozo vision. Well done. Acceleration in this direction is becoming a necessity.
Michael Seychell
Mar 22nd 2010, 12:28
I totally agree with Mr Igalea, who reminded us all about the very basic way of saving water.
I appeal to MEPA to enforce such regulations regarding private wells in all residences. I can add that in case of apartments the roof water can go in a common wall and this will be used for the general cleaning of the common areas. Furthermore it should be ensured that all Public & Industrial and Commercial Buildings , whether these aree Factories, Busness Complexes, Garage complexes, etc.
Goverments should also follow up the issue of unregistered boreholes, as well as hidden reservopus extracting water from the water table for private/business use - I was told that this is actually happening.
Finally I hope that governments will consider also the suggestion made to ensure that all valleys will be used as water catchments, as proposed by Mr Igalea
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
Lawrence Mifsud
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:41
... "groundwater extraction would be metered so that the authorities could have a clear picture of the amount of extraction". WHEN?; AND WHAT THEN? I bet the water table will be long -gone salty by then
Paul Caruana
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:21
There is no doubt that local modern agricultural methods are creating serious enviromental problems in Malta. To mention just two - the depletion of the water table, and the contamination of ground water with nitrate, derived from the excessive use of fertilizer in maltese agriculture.
Coupled with the excessive prices charged for local produce, it is pertinent to ask oneself if encouraging local agriculture is a good thing, or wheather it would be better if, for the sake of our limited water rescources, our health and our pockets, we discourage these harmful practices!
lgalea
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:35
NO country would ever do anything to depend for all its agricultural products on other countries. It would be madness. What is required is to teach the farmers how to use mush less water and fertilizers, help them to build water reservoirs, dam all available valleys and keep them clean so prevent rain water from simply running into the sea, and enforce the law that all buildings must have a well which must be at least large enough to hold two years of rainfall on its roof areas and fine any architect who certifies a well that does not conform to this requirement. Its a disgrace that such a law made by the knights who saw the water problem hundreds of years ago is not enforced and buildings owners are allowed to do without a well or just a small hole which would be totally filled just by moisture. If the wells are kept clean and the water checked and treated if necessary it could be used for drinking and cooking and even if the well leaks, the leakage will replenish the water table. Simple ideas that could save our country from having to experience water scarcity.
laurence schembri
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:18
George. metered and charged.
Nigel Lawrence
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:15
How many millions of cubic metres of ground water are used in swimming pools? I bet NOBODY can answer that one.
lgalea
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:37
You are right. Such practices should not be allowed when we have such water scarcity in our country. All pool owners should be forced to fill their swimming pools with seawater or if they have money to burn then they should get themselves a reverse osmosis and filter their own seawater.
M Cassar
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:15
And the rich fill up their swimming pools with stolen water from the government. This is where you should set your targets, cut this rampant abuse which has been going on for years now.