The borehole meters saga has taken on a new twist as the majority of those fitted are being replaced because they are faulty, the Energy Ministry confirmed.

Less than half the registered agricultural boreholes have been metered – four years since the original 2010 deadline.

Around 60 per cent of those fitted are now being replaced “due to a manufacturing problem”, a spokesman said.

He added that the replacement is being done at no extra cost to the Water Services Corporation as the expense is being borne by the supplier, AFS Ltd that represents Maddalena S.p.A.

So far, around 1,218 boreholes have been metered and it was expected that the remaining 2,300 would be done by early next year. This deadline will not be affected by the need to replace the meters already installed, according to the ministry.

Once meters were ins­talled, the government was meant to monitor water extraction and usage rates with the intention of setting water quotas for farmers.

More on Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com

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