Editorial
Sleep-walking towards disaster
Malta almost has the worst per capita availability of water in the world, lying 172nd out of 180 nations, a position that will be made worse with climate change.
A study conducted among farmers in Malta, the first of its kind by the National Statistics Office, has established that agriculture used about 19 million cubic metres of water in the year between September 2008 and 2009, most of this extracted from the ground. In contrast, last year the Water Services Corporation - the only entity legally authorised to use the country's fresh-water supply for public consumption - extracted about 13 million cubic metres of ground-water for distribution as tap water. A further 16.6 million cubic metres of water were produced by reverse osmosis plants, of course at a huge financial cost.
Of the 19 million cubic metres extracted by agriculture, only 0.3 million were actually paid for, leaving well over 18 million extracted at no cost to the farmer.
Whichever way one looks at these figures - that were released, ironically, to mark World Water Day - they provide an appalling indictment of the way the country manages this most precious resource.
Here is one of the most water-starved countries in the world, which has, justifiably, though not very adroitly, recently raised its charges for water use, allowing a huge part of its dwindling and absolutely vital resource not only to be over-extracted but also at no charge at all. Such profligacy beggars belief. Worse, it is a situation that has prevailed for a very long time with no government having either the administrative skill, the willingness to invest sufficient resources to increase fresh-water capacity or the political will to tackle this crucial problem.
Several eminent hydrologists have repeatedly warned Malta that unless it cuts its dependence on aquifers, ground-water sources may dry up within the next 15 years. Some experts put it at less and, indeed, a former chairman of the WSC forecast that Malta would run out of water within "about five years". The country is sleep-walking to disaster. Water is an essential resource of all life and a vital requirement for good health, sanitation and a critical contributor to almost all industrial production.
What is to be done?
The Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, George Pullicino, has said that ground-water extraction would be metered by the end of the year "so that the authorities would have a clear picture of the amount extracted and from which areas". That is a good start but it surely is not good enough.
While it has to be accepted that farmers need water to produce their crops, is it right that this should be cost-free and uncontrolled? Why should industrial producers of bottled water not pay a proper market price for the water they extract for free from the aquifer? Should not other industrial and commercial enterprises, which similarly benefit from this common resource, also pay the market price?
How much longer are we to wait for government action? The government must take the steps necessary to protect and replenish Malta's water table by investing in the infrastructure to safeguard this vital strategic social and economic resource before it is too late. It may cost many millions of euros to do so but the costs of doing nothing are too serious to contemplate.
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r.cutajar
Apr 28th 2010, 09:36
Unfortunately and tragically the politicians do not really care !
Not so long ago a minister responsabile for water while being asked about water for sale via bowser services kept evading answering the most obvious
The politicians need to be arrested in such blatant abuse of power or should it be said Abuse Encouragement ??
In any case the politician only cares when it is usually too late and or to his immidiate advantage !
Josef Laspina
Apr 28th 2010, 08:51
Climate Change?? Or fixed oil prices ? Its the cartel to blame not the lack of oil - The US can start drilling on its West coast and extract its reserves of oil which it keeps in case all world supplies dry up -
Paul Smith
Apr 27th 2010, 21:48
Thank you TOM for highlighting these issues. Truly a Great newspaper. How about a header about dwindling global oil supplies? And the ramifications for water production and farming!
Have no doubt - The horseman are coming
Paul Smith
Apr 27th 2010, 21:42
Malta - the next easter island. We are also heading into the downside curve of oil. within a decade global oil production will be half of what it is today - If i were maltese i would be asking -where are the life boats!
Joseph Ellul-Grech
Apr 27th 2010, 20:38
Water is very precious, especially for a country like Malta. As it has been stated in this editorial “it is a situation that has prevailed for a very long time with no government having either the administrative skill, the willingness to invest sufficient resources to increase fresh-water capacity or the political will to tackle this crucial problem.”
Since 1987, excluding 18 months of a Labour administration, there has only been one political party administering the nation, the Nationalist Party. Why has there been such neglect? Who is going to be held accountable? This is mismanagement of the worse kind. There is no accountability.
P Sciberras
Apr 27th 2010, 16:57
Malta has been dragging its feet on this problem for years,but beside the usual talk,nothing has been than.One problem which the Government seem not to give any importance is the number of water bowsers on their daily sale of Malta,s table water.It was mentioned recently that meters will be installed near these points of loading.I think this is not practicable as there is is always a way to go around this.The best way is to monitor the number of trips these bowsers make by installing cameras near each locality.
Peppi Gauci
Apr 27th 2010, 12:33
It is imperative for any community or nation to recognize that water is the fundamental element which is supporting our entire existence on this planet. Our collective conception and understanding of this element needs to shift. In order for this to happen, educational, architectural,agricultural and governmental entities need to be addressed with a proper transition plan. Effective methods drawn from ancient knowledge, technical and biological understanding need to be integrated in a nation wide plan. The economical factor, however ambitious it might be is still entirely dependent on the sustained nature of water and thus short sightedness in this matter is not at all sustainable.
'Where there is a will, there is a way' , but so far we have never seen serious political will being implemented in this unforgiving issue. It is time for a rapid change of direction, however radical this may sound . Water needs to climb back up in the priority list of all citizens of this country or the consequences will be much tougher than they have ever been.
e.cportis
Apr 27th 2010, 12:25
I suggest the WSC to go through the April edition of the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE where they can find the latest technology i.c.w modern energy saving reverse osmosis plants and ways to tackle the water problem as many nations are doing. Between 75 and 80% of fresh water is used in agriculture, most of it FOR FREE !!.
Please choose the reason of your report below: