Private residences buying water from bowser suppliers do so at their own risk – despite the potential health hazards associated with groundwater, according to the Public Health Department.
The department is not responsible for monitoring the supply of water from bowsers serving residences for domestic purposes.
Those buying this water do so “at their own risk”, and it is up to the individual to check the quality of the water. Not doing so can land you in trouble in more ways than one.
Last week, The Sunday Times of Malta reported that the majority of water suppliers advertising in the Yellow Pages make use of boreholes that are not registered and certified by the Public Health Department, while providing reassurances it is safe to consume.
The newspaper first reported the problem six years ago.
Since then, rather than being brought under control it has become worse, with fewer water suppliers having Health Department approval.
Asked why no action has been taken to stem the abuse, an official from the Public Health Department replied: “It is your responsibility to check the quality of the water being supplied, and the best way to do this is to ask for the certificate permitting the sale of potable water.”
The department’s remit to check the quality of water purchased from bowser suppliers only applies to hotels, restaurants, staff canteens, holiday villages and other establishments that have “changing populations”.
Another two certificates were revoked from registered private water suppliers last December, in addition to the eight suppliers struck off the list since 2011.
Now, only a handful of suppliers have the approval of the Health Department.
Public water being stolen and resold to consumers for a profit
The licences were revoked because groundwater extracted by the suppliers no longer met the standards required for potable water and pose a health risk.
Apart from the health hazard of consuming water that does not meet safety standards, consumers are also liable to punishment.
“If you purchase water for your private residence from a supplier that is not registered with the public health department, then you are as responsible as the seller in terms of breaking the law.
“If you want to be safe, use tap water,” the official added.
This was confirmed by the Ministry for Water Conservation, which said it did not recommend the use of potable water that is not certified by the Environmental Health Directorate.
“Each household in Malta has a reliable supply of potable water provided by the Water Services Corporation. The quality of this water meets the levels required by the EU’s Drinking Water Directive and is extensively tested to ensure its reliability,” the ministry said.
Water expert Marco Cremona, who has called for the regulation of groundwater use for more than two decades, said it was about time groundwater extraction by private suppliers was controlled.
“Bowsers are usually used in contexts where a proper water distribution system does not exist,” Mr Cremona said.
“This is not the situation in Malta, where everybody can have a connection to the main supply.
“The use of bowsers to supply potable water is absurd and abusive. This is public water that is being stolen and resold to consumers for a profit.”
Over-abstraction of groundwater from boreholes has led to a steady deterioration in water quality. Now, 87 per cent of groundwater bodies have a poor status, according to a 2012 European Commission report.
It recommends “adequate monitoring” of private groundwater abstraction.
The list of water suppliers registered with the Public Health Department may be seen on the website www.ehealth.gov.mt.