Malta can never run out of water and the worst case scenario would be a worsening in the quality, according to the Water Services Corporation CEO Mark Muscat.
Some locations might require a purifier to edge off the salty taste
Two years ago, former WSC chairman Tancred Tabone had told The Sunday Times“Malta will run out of water in about five years”, and that “nobody is listening”.
Mr Muscat rubbished the idea, saying that Mr Tabone “had only been a chairman for six months” and stressed that water would never run out, although he admitted it could worsen and would need more purifying treatments.
Resources Minister George Pullicino re-affirmed the CEO’s statement and said the Malta Resources Authority was committed to taking action.
He was addressing the launch of the Water Policy for the Maltese Islands, which encourages constant research on how to improve water conservation.
Mr Pullicino conceded that the EU targets for the implementation of a water catchment plan for groundwater will not all be met by 2015, as not all the necessary structures can be in place on time.
However, he said that a total of 700,000 cubic metres of water annually will be stored thanks to the Flood Relief System, which is still, however, at “detailed design stage”.
Mr Pullicino said that although “the quality of our own water has gone down” there was no need for anyone to buy bottled water.
“We can all drink tap water,” he said, conceding that some locations might require a small purifier to edge off the salty taste.
The example of a farmer in Ta’ Qali, who has set up effective technology, was cited. His equipment measures the soil pH and dryness, the data is sent to a computer in Cyprus which processes it, which then sends back information about how much water the farmer needs for his land.
“That way there’s no wastage of water at all,” said Mr Pullicino.
Other measures mentioned in the policy include metering private boreholes. Commercial meters, he announced, were all set up.
Although the EU and the Audit Office have been pushing the government to start charging for water extraction as soon as possible, the decision on rates will only be taken in 2013.
There has been a clampdownon illegal boreholes – mainly thanks to people who blow the whistle on their neighbours and through reading of water consumption patterns.
Meanwhile, meters on farmers’ boreholes are being installed. Each and every farmer will have his individual water quota – based on size of land, crop and quality of water – and will not need to pay, Mr Pullicino said.
Several farmers were applying for reservoir permits, which was very encouraging, he said.
Also, €1.5 million have been spent on a programme to instruct farmers how to learn to reduce the impact of nitrate seepage into the ground, which contaminates the water. There are only 12 farms left which do not have tents to cover cow manure and many of these are pending relocation, he said.
The ministry is also encouraging home-owners to make extensive use of wells and will be launching a scheme in the next budget.
The policy is basically identical to the proposals issued in2010 for public consultation. “There was agreement on all measures,” authority official Manoel Sapiano said.
“The feedback we got was to push even further. We are using the recommendations we received for the time when measures become action plans,” he said.