Geologist Peter Gatt exposed the abandonment of the British-built flood prevention infrastructure particularly the dams at Wied il-Kbir, the adjacent valleys, Wied Ħanżir and Wied Xkora (Flooding By Design, November 1). Brimming with collected silt over the years, these dams offered no relief to some of the wasted 90 per cent of rain that fell the other week. Hopefully the responsible authority is already looking into this state of affairs.

Meanwhile within the recently announced “massive storm water collection project” one may consider the possibility of utilising kilometres of underground wartime shelters, including shelters beneath private houses as well as massive underground spaces beneath ex-British Services establishments.

Suitable electric pumps would come into play when or if it becomes necessary to either transfer collected water from lower to higher areas or if the need arises to return these spaces to their natural use.