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Monday, March 22, 2010

Ready to pay 500% more for water?

Today, I am starting the Live Green Series. The idea is to bring more awareness on why we should live environmental friendly as much as possible. All the little things that we do help the world and no small amount is too little if each indivudual gives his share.

The hereunder article in occassion of World Water Day which happens to be today, was taken from Vida Magazine as it showed wonderfully the problem we are facing with regards to water here in Malta. However, the shortage of water is present all over the world and its important for everyone to understand how critical the problem can be.

Please feel free to join in by entering your blog on the mclinky below!
We use thousands of litres of water everyday without realising that Malta has the lowest volume of water from natural resources in the world. With little rainfall, a history of irresponsible water consumption and a densely populated territory, no other country in the world has so many people with so little water. Even countries with much drier climates have more water resources than Malta.

When we drive through the countryside in summer and see farmers' fields flourishing with all kinds of crops we may be fooled into thinking that the water shortage problem is being overrated. You might ask - how can we have no water if our streets are flooded whenever it rains?

Hydrologist Marco Cremona explains that these misconceptions are hiding a very big problem- in less than 15 years time Malta's underground natural water sources will be completely depleted. When this happens, all tap water we use in our homes and businesses will have to be supplied from revese osmosis (RO)plants, which require huge electricity consumption. Consequently, the cost of producing water will be more expensive, possibly pushing up water tariffs four or five times higher than they are now.

The Water Services Corporation which provides tap water in our homes, gets over half of its supplies from RO plants (57%) and another 12 billion litres of water a year from the aquifiers (water table).

An additional 20 billion litres are annually pumped from aquifiers by the private sector, including water suppliers, farmers, the construction, manufacturing and hotel industries, water bottling companies and other businesses. These pay nothing to extract water from the aquifiers through boreholes, leading to rampant abuse. While the country's aquifiers can only support an annual extraction of up to 23 billion litres of water, currently over 33 billion litres are being pumped every year.

As more water is pumped from the aquifier by the private sector, the quantities that the Corporation can extract will have to be reduced, and replenished by the more expensive RO plants. This happens because when too much water is extracted from an aquifier, its salinity levels increase, rendering it unfit for drinking. If over- extraction continues, eventually all the aquifiers will be ruined.

When Malta's underground sources are unuasable (in 15 years time if the current trend continues) the country will be solely dependent on RO water. This is a big risk- what happens if all the country's RO plants suddenly stop functioning due to a power cut, natural disaster or if the sea is contanimated with an oil spill? In this scenario, Malta will run our of water in two days.

How can we help conserve water?

  1. Collect rainwater from your roof in a well or tank to use for gardening, cleaning floors, cars and flushing toilets.
  2. Buy water saving gadgets for your home
  3. Reduce toilet flushing wastage by using water displacement device (a plastic container filled with water and put in the flushing)
  4. Do not leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or having a shower
  5. Fix leaks- dripping taps waste almost 500 litres of water a month
  6. Choose water saving appliances and preferably use washing machines or dishwashers when they have a full load only.



MckLinky Blog Hop

4 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Aimee Larsen said...

This is true for everyone. We should all be doing more to conserve but it sounds like Malta will have a crisis on it's hands if something doesn't change. Great post! Thanks for stopping by and visiting me.

KarieK said...

I tell you what water is so precious! I need to do the rainwater catch for my plants and what have you. But AZ is so dry as well, while we have received a good amount of rain we are in a constant drought.

Amity said...

Oh, this is a great advocacy Melissa, not only in your place but throughout the world...:)

I am so thankful that in our place, we are not in want of waster supply as we are enjoying too much blessings from nature...:) But I want to support your cause dear!

You've got a new template dear...I like it...:)

Good morning!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Ready to pay 500% more for water?

Today, I am starting the Live Green Series. The idea is to bring more awareness on why we should live environmental friendly as much as possible. All the little things that we do help the world and no small amount is too little if each indivudual gives his share.

The hereunder article in occassion of World Water Day which happens to be today, was taken from Vida Magazine as it showed wonderfully the problem we are facing with regards to water here in Malta. However, the shortage of water is present all over the world and its important for everyone to understand how critical the problem can be.

Please feel free to join in by entering your blog on the mclinky below!
We use thousands of litres of water everyday without realising that Malta has the lowest volume of water from natural resources in the world. With little rainfall, a history of irresponsible water consumption and a densely populated territory, no other country in the world has so many people with so little water. Even countries with much drier climates have more water resources than Malta.

When we drive through the countryside in summer and see farmers' fields flourishing with all kinds of crops we may be fooled into thinking that the water shortage problem is being overrated. You might ask - how can we have no water if our streets are flooded whenever it rains?

Hydrologist Marco Cremona explains that these misconceptions are hiding a very big problem- in less than 15 years time Malta's underground natural water sources will be completely depleted. When this happens, all tap water we use in our homes and businesses will have to be supplied from revese osmosis (RO)plants, which require huge electricity consumption. Consequently, the cost of producing water will be more expensive, possibly pushing up water tariffs four or five times higher than they are now.

The Water Services Corporation which provides tap water in our homes, gets over half of its supplies from RO plants (57%) and another 12 billion litres of water a year from the aquifiers (water table).

An additional 20 billion litres are annually pumped from aquifiers by the private sector, including water suppliers, farmers, the construction, manufacturing and hotel industries, water bottling companies and other businesses. These pay nothing to extract water from the aquifiers through boreholes, leading to rampant abuse. While the country's aquifiers can only support an annual extraction of up to 23 billion litres of water, currently over 33 billion litres are being pumped every year.

As more water is pumped from the aquifier by the private sector, the quantities that the Corporation can extract will have to be reduced, and replenished by the more expensive RO plants. This happens because when too much water is extracted from an aquifier, its salinity levels increase, rendering it unfit for drinking. If over- extraction continues, eventually all the aquifiers will be ruined.

When Malta's underground sources are unuasable (in 15 years time if the current trend continues) the country will be solely dependent on RO water. This is a big risk- what happens if all the country's RO plants suddenly stop functioning due to a power cut, natural disaster or if the sea is contanimated with an oil spill? In this scenario, Malta will run our of water in two days.

How can we help conserve water?

  1. Collect rainwater from your roof in a well or tank to use for gardening, cleaning floors, cars and flushing toilets.
  2. Buy water saving gadgets for your home
  3. Reduce toilet flushing wastage by using water displacement device (a plastic container filled with water and put in the flushing)
  4. Do not leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or having a shower
  5. Fix leaks- dripping taps waste almost 500 litres of water a month
  6. Choose water saving appliances and preferably use washing machines or dishwashers when they have a full load only.



MckLinky Blog Hop

4 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Aimee Larsen said...

This is true for everyone. We should all be doing more to conserve but it sounds like Malta will have a crisis on it's hands if something doesn't change. Great post! Thanks for stopping by and visiting me.

KarieK said...

I tell you what water is so precious! I need to do the rainwater catch for my plants and what have you. But AZ is so dry as well, while we have received a good amount of rain we are in a constant drought.

Amity said...

Oh, this is a great advocacy Melissa, not only in your place but throughout the world...:)

I am so thankful that in our place, we are not in want of waster supply as we are enjoying too much blessings from nature...:) But I want to support your cause dear!

You've got a new template dear...I like it...:)

Good morning!