For those who wanted to see it, the water problem in this country has been evident for the last 40 years or so. In the 1960s, we started to increase water production by desalinisation. This method made water costlier than whiskey because the amount of electricity required to produce water was fantastic. Fuel was relatively cheap at the time.

Then came reverse osmosis plants. This system produces more water and is not that costly. However, with the prevailing prices of oil, it is still prohibitive.

To add to the country’s water woes, the system of boring holes to reach the lower aquifer was introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s and the water was then pumped by submersibles, which conveniently appeared on the market.

The amazing thing was that not only did the Administration not stop this water thieving but I heard with my own ears a minister boasting that the Government he was part of closed one eye to the digging of boreholes.

So now we have a situation where farmers are using more of the stuff than the whole population. The former Administration knew it but never lifted a finger to remedy the situation. A tunnel is now being dug, starting in Attard, to channel rainwater to the sea in Msida. This will cost us about €56 million. When a deluge of criticism of this system was made, the Administration said that not all the water will be going to the sea.

I strongly feel that this money could have been utilised better had the water been captured prior to reaching Birkirkara by digging huge deep wells underneath the four roundabouts from Mosta and the road leading to the University.

These could be dug to some 20 metres above sea level and widened as they get deeper. Their construction could be done without hindering traffic if the work started from the roundabouts.

Most of the sludge could be removed by making water pass through a triple trap prior to reaching the wells. We may also want to purify it if made to pass through cotton filters.

There are also cheap methods of killing bacteria.

This water would then recharge the lower aquifer. I mooted this solution some seven years ago but was classified as having a blurred vision.

Of course, the water situation here requires an overall plan. I am of the opinion that practically all rainwater that falls on our roads should be preserved. It should be either collected in surface reservoirs or made to go down to the lower aquifer. This is the only way to recharge the aquifer, being depleted through boreholes.

The silly idea of cleaning valleys must stop. Where possible, valleys should be dammed to force water to seep to the aquifer.

Every hill on the island should, where feasible, have a well of some sort where water collects.

Where cultivated land is near, such water should be made available to farmers. Solar panels could be installed so that pumping up the water would be free of charge for the farmer. This would make it profitable for him not to use the borehole.

Effluence should, as far as possible, be polished to a high standard of safety and utilised for agricultural purposes.

We should make it worthwhile for farmers to use this type of water. There is, of course, a distaste among consumers for agri-products watered by such polished effluent. It will take a considerable amount of time to change this idea. In Singapore, they clean effluence and use it as bottled water for schools.

Though our water problem is precarious, records show that we have more than enough rainfall than we actually need and use. However, we never really tried to capture it all.

I am pleased to hear that Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi has made it one of his missions to address this problem to which there are solutions. It will not be a quick solution but, in a few years’ time, we will be seeing tangible results.

Modern science and technology is in our favour. Together with the political will, which is available, we will live to see the end of the prevailing water disaster