The majority of water suppliers advertising in the Yellow Pages make use of boreholes not registered and certified by the Public Health Department while providing reassurances it is safe to consume.
An exercise carried out by The Sunday Times of Malta showed that bowser suppliers are selling potentially hazardous water delivered at an average cost of €30 for 3,000 gallons and claiming it is safe to drink.
The price has increased from €26 for 3,000 gallons in 2008 when this newspaper first reported the problem. Since then, not only have the authorities failed to bring the problem under control but it has become worse with fewer water suppliers having the approval of the Health Department.
Posing as a potential customer, The Sunday Times of Malta called a number of bowser operators. Questions on whether the water was fit for consumption were met with reassurances.
One water supplier with an advert in the Yellow Pages’ section claimed he was selling first class potable water, despite the fact his certification was withdrawn by an emergency control order in 2011 because of a nitrate level of 87 milligrams per litre.
The safety standard listed in the EU Water Framework Directive is a nitrate level below 50 milligrams per litre. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets a maximum contaminant level of only 10 milligrams per litre.
The water supplier repeatedly said the water was fit for consumption and could be used for “everything”, including coffee. The presence of high levels of nitrates in drinking water is linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Another supplier advertising “the best prices on the market” offered water at exactly the same price as the rest and dispelled fears by saying he drank it himself.
“Nobody is going to tell you it’s OK to drink bowser water, but if you want to use it then boil it. Let me be honest with you, I drink it without boiling it but I’m not supposed to tell you that.
“I prefer it to government (mains) water. It’s pure, coming straight from the ground. There’s no chlorine and other stuff like that in it. I’m fine. Nothing happened to me,” he said.
A main cause of high levels of nitrate in groundwater is excessive use of fertiliser in agriculture, since boreholes are predominantly in agricultural areas.
A few suppliers advertising water, even though it is sourced illegally, were hesitant when asked to confirm whether the water was fit to drink, but suggested boiling to alleviate any concerns.
The risks related to nitrates are not eliminated by boiling the water. In fact, the heating process can actually increase the nitrate concentration because some of the water will evaporate but the nitrate will not, according to the US EPA.
One supplier said it was safest to drink bottled water. At the same time, he offered water of a “superior” quality at €35 for 3,000 gallons if the intended use was drinking. Asked why it was more expensive, he replied that it was “sweeter”.
Only two groundwater bodies have good chemical status while 13 of them (87 per cent) are in poor status, according to a 2012 European Commission report assessing the implementation of the Water Framework Directive.
The report recommends adequate monitoring of private groundwater extraction as a major pressure on groundwater bodies: “The problem of water scarcity and over-extraction that are significant pressures and cause poor quantitative status should be tackled with appropriate measures.”
The list of water suppliers registered with the Public Health Department may be seen on the website www.ehealth.gov.mt.