The recent rainfall is not all that unusual. But why does heavy rainfall now cause such havoc?

What has changed is the volume of the run-off rainwater. When rain falls on open land it would normally percolate into the ground and make its way down to the water table to feed the ground water. There is a limit to the amount of water that the land can absorb and when too much rain falls it overflows, eventually flooding the surrounding area and creating floodplains.

With the huge amount of construction that has taken place in the last few decades in Gozo, more and more land is getting covered in concrete. Water falling on roofs, drives, roads, pathways and other paved areas runs off immediately and causes flooding within minutes.

Paved or concreted areas do not soak up any water. Before these buildings and roads were constructed, the water slowly drained into the land and only overflowed on saturation.

So two problems are occurring: the water table is not being replenished as it should and flooding is causing damage to property.

Yet another reason why a tax should be placed on empty or incomplete property. This would have the effect of reducing the construction of new buildings and making sure all the new ones are finished.