Experts call for bipartisan consensus on water management plan

Malta’s groundwater resources are in such perilous state that should over-abstracting continue, soon Malta would have to depend exclusively on Reverse Osmosis water.

In a statement, the Malta Water Association noted that apart from severe over-exploitation, 90% of the groundwater bodies already show nitrate levels that exceed the EU limit of 50mg/l.

“This is unsustainable and detrimental to the Maltese economy, and terrifying from a strategic point of view – because should anything happen to the Reverse Osmosis plants, Malta only has two days’ supply of potable water in its reservoirs,” the Association said.

It said how in the run-up to the last general elections, the Malta Water Association drew up an extensive set of recommendations to the political parties, which acknowledged this need in their manifestos.

They highlighted the need for more financial and human resources for the development of the plan, as well as more education to water users. They also appealed for political consensus on the direction of the water management plan, since the plan’s timeframes will necessary span across a number of political administrations.

“Hence the only way to ensure continuity and measureable progress is to ensure a commitment by both parties from the outset. Partisan politics should be absent in the debate on water resources management.”