A law prohibiting rooftop rainwater from being channelled into the drainage system has been watered down, according to Labour planning spokesman Roderick Galdes.

Mr Galdes cried foul after regulations introduced last month on energy conservation in buildings repealed an old police law that made it mandatory for homes to have a well.

The law, which dates back to the time of the Knights of St John, also prohibited rainwater from being discharged into the sewer system.

A closer look at the legal notice shows that the prohibition is still catered for because the regulations embrace a document published in 2006, known as Technical Guidance Document F on Energy Performance in Buildings.

The document – which is not attached to the legal notice – makes it very clear that any rainwater that falls on roofs “shall not be allowed to drain into the public sewer” or any public place and road. Rainwater shall be collected in “suitable wells or cisterns within the site of the building”.

However, Mr Galdes expressed concern because the new legal regime will make it even more difficult to enforce the law. Non-observance of the law to have a well already created massive problems to the sewage system every time it rained, he added.

“Guidelines are not mandatory and by removing the direct reference to the prohibition from the law, it will be very difficult for the authorities to clamp down on abuse,” Mr Galdes said.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com