From various comments made, sometimes even by experts in the field, it is evident that there is no storm water master plan for the Maltese Islands. I remember that a sewage master plan was made and a number of changes and improvements to the sewage system were carried out in the 1990s.

Not having a storm water master plan has brought us to the present situation of crisis management with the various government institutions looking at the problem from their own perspective.

So the first priority would be to generate this master plan after studying the water catchment areas as they are now, sometimes blocked by illegal or sanctioned development. This master plan, once approved, should be cast in stone and no infringements should be allowed.

The second problem is the design of our roads. It seems that in the 1970s and 1980s, when new roads were being built, the philosophy at the time seemed to be that culverts are useless since they get blocked and cannot cope with a sudden downpour.

I strongly believe this is nonsense. However, this philosophy seems to have been retained to this day, when roads are treated as rivers to carry the storm water themselves. To add insult to injury, when every architect applies for a Mepa permit, he has to say how will the rainwater be disposed of. In most cases the reply would be that it will be channelled into a water cistern (well), with an overflow onto the street.

Many apartment blocks have no well and the grey water from the semi-basement garages is pumped into the main sewer. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.

The master plan should generate a grey water network of pipes and reservoirs or systems of capillary pipes with French drains to enable absorption by the aquifer where pipes end in soft areas. This network should be retrofitted starting from flood-prone areas. All premises should be checked and their storm water connection to be made to this new network.

As in the case of the connection to the main sewer, each subscriber should be made to pay a connection fee. If it is found that there is no well installed, the fee should be increased to cater for the larger volume of storm water catered for. Revenue from this fee should help towards the construction and maintenance of this system.

Naturally, any financial package from the European Union for such a scheme would be more than welcome. I dare say that this is money well spent.