During a press conference today on the use of public natural resources, Alternattiva Demokratika’s Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said, “water is scarce and extremely precious in Malta. Malta is the tenth driest country in the world when it comes to water resources pro-capita. The driest 9 countries in the world are all countries that include a desert within their confines.”

He added, “indeed, Malta is the driest country in the world which does not incorporate desert land. As things stand at present, in our country we are extracting about double the amount of water from the water table than that replenished through rainfall. If we continue at this rate our country risks becoming totally dry within the next two decades or so.”

Carmel Cacopardo, AD Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson on Sustainable Development, stated, “it is essential that ground water is protected. It has been ignored for ages both due to over-extraction of water as well as a result of its being contaminated through pesticides, artificial fertilisers and farm sewage.”

“This press conference is being addressed next to a factory which is known to utilise ground water for 40% of its requirements. This is not acceptable and has to cease forthwith,” Carmel Cacopardo stated.

“It is essential that decisions are rolled out the earliest because further delay will leave us in a situation where we have nothing left to protect.”

Cacopardo continued, “among the urgent decisions required are the need to better regulate the extraction of ground water including that industry is not permitted to make direct use of this resource neither against payment and much less without.

“It is positive that among the decisions already taken is that about the reuse of treated sewage effluent (TSE). Calls for tender have already been issued and we hope that the necessary changes are carried out at the earliest. The use of TSE will necessarily lead to a reduction of use of water coming from other sources, including ground water.”

“It is also essential that that the conclusions of the pilot project to recharge the aquifer through using TSE are made public so that an informed public debate of the matter is carried out,” he said.

“A long term agricultural plan which considers the water requirements of this strategic activity is essential. Such an agricultural plan should also address the need to reduce the use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers.

“Farmers require professional assistance to address this matter which should seek not only the reduction of use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers but also the protection of soiled and ground water. We should remember that the contamination of ground water follows a 40 year cycle. That means it will take some time for benefits of present day decisions to be felt. It is thus more important to act at the soonest.”Carmel Cacopardo concluded.

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