eu life+ - national water conference 2012 report
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ÂTRANSCRIPT
National Water Conference Report
August 2012
1
Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 2
2. Key outputs.............................................................................................................. 3
Water Scarcity ..................................................................................................................................... 3
National and EU legislation and policy ................................................................................................ 3
Saving water ....................................................................................................................................... 4
3. Agenda ..................................................................................................................... 5
4. Speeches ................................................................................................................. 6
1. Mr George Vella, President, Malta Business Bureau .................................................................. 6
2. Dr Marie Louise Mangion, Director of Sustainability Unit, Ministry for Tourism, Culture and the
Environment ............................................................................................................................... 6
3. Mr Geoffrey Saliba, EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project Manager, Malta Business Bureau .... 7
4. Mr. Manuel Sapiano, Malta Resources Authority Hydrologist ..................................................... 8
5. Ing. Marco Cremona, Water Expert to the EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project ........................ 9
6. Mr Manuel Sapiano, Malta Resources Authority Senior Analyst (Hydrology) ........................... 10
7. Mr Peter Gammeltoft, Head of Water Protection Unit, DG ENV ............................................... 11
8. Mr Tancred Tabone, President, Malta Chamber ....................................................................... 12
9. Mr Victor Buhagiar, Manager Administration APS Bank ........................................................... 13
10. Ing. Joseph Restall, Chief Engineer, Hilton Malta ..................................................................... 13
11. Dr. Fabio Masi, Iridra Technical Director - Scientific Manager, LIFE WATACLIC Project ........ 14
12. Mrs Konstantina Toli, Programme Office, Alter Aqua GWP-Med Project ................................. 15
13. Mr Tony Zahra, MHRA President .............................................................................................. 15
14. Ing. Anthony Rizzo, CEO Malta Resources Authority ............................................................... 16
5. Speaker contact details......................................................................................... 17
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1. Introduction
The Malta Business Bureau’s EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project organised the National
Water Conference on the 22nd June 2012. The conference brought together a range of
speakers from public and private entities to discuss water saving. The following entities
addressed attendees:
Directorate-General Environment, European Commission (DG ENV)
Ministry for Tourism, Culture and the Environment (MTCE)
Malta Resources Authority (MRA)
Malta Business Bureau (MBB)
Hilton Malta
APS Bank
LIFE WATACLIC Project
Alter Aqua, GWP-Med Project
Over the course of the day attendees were presented with an overview of the key water
scarcity issues in Malta including; the state of Malta’s groundwater, the expected impacts of
climate change on freshwater provision, and the need and impacts of sourcing freshwater
through reverse osmosis. Various water saving initiatives were presented, opened by the
project presenting its findings based on a set of water audits carried out earlier in 2012.
Maltese and EU legislation and policy were also presented, and the conference concluded
with a discussion between the floor and a panel.
Around 150 attendees from target audience enterprises and other stakeholders attended.
Presentations and an audio recording of the conference have been uploaded to the project
website to serve as references to interested parties.
Project website – www.investinginwater.org
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2. Key outputs
Water Scarcity
Malta is one of the world’s top ten water scarce countries. Almost all of Malta’s natural
freshwater reserves are stored as groundwater in aquifers. Demand is however, higher than
natural supply, which has led to historic over-extraction. Coupled with pollution from nitrate
sources this has led to a serious deterioration of groundwater bodies. 90% of groundwater
bodies do not meet the ‘Good Status’ criteria – defined as producing water which meet EU
drinking water standards.
To compensate for higher water demand than can be met through naturally occurring
freshwater reverse osmosis has been relied upon. Reverse osmosis currently provides
around 55% of Malta’s tap water. The process however, comes at an environmental and
economic cost as it requires a lot of energy, and currently consumes 4% of Malta’s
electricity.
The expected impact of climate change could result in a worsening of water scarcity in
Malta. Climate change models predict that annual rainfall could decrease by as much as
15% in the Mediterranean. This would lead to decreased recharge of Malta’s aquifers
resulting in a lower sustainable yield. Since groundwater remains one of the main sources of
water in the Maltese islands this would have a serious impact on the management and
provision of freshwater locally.
National and EU legislation and policy
EU policy acknowledges the problems posed by water scarcity and seeks to establish an
infrastructure for the efficient and sustainable management of water resources. Of particular
note for Malta are three obligations:
1) Groundwater bodies need to be restored to ‘Good Status’ by 20151,
2) An environmental and resource cost was to be attached to supplied water by 2010,
3) A sewerage tariff also needs to be charged to customers.
The latter two points have yet to be implemented in Malta while it is unlikely that restoring
Malta’s groundwater bodies to ‘Good Status’ by 2015 is technically feasible.
The national approach to water scarcity is to focus on both supply and demand
management. The supply of alternative sources of water is being invested in, with additional
infrastructure planned to treat and polish sewage effluent for distribution as 2nd class water.
National efforts to increase the efficiency with which water is consumed are also being
encouraged, executed, and planned. By decreasing demand and augmenting supply with
treated sewage effluent as well as rainwater, it is believed that over-extraction of
groundwater can be eliminated.
1 ‘Good Status’ refers to a set of qualitative and quantitative criteria, as laid out in the Water Framework
Directive; Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000
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Saving water
The project carried out water audits with a sample set of businesses and hotels earlier in
2012. These audits show that a strong element of over-design exists in service water
facilities, resulting in significant water wastage. To guide enterprises in reducing wastage
due to over-design, the project identified the following best practice flow rates:
Showers - 7 litres per minute
Wash-hand basins - 5 litres per minute
Toilet flushing volumes - 6 litres
There is significant potential for water savings across the board as 85% of businesses and
75% of hotels exceed these best practice water flows.
The potential for water savings through the sourcing by enterprises of sustainable 2nd class
water also exits. Identified sources include in-house recycling of grey and black water, and
the harvesting of rainwater. A best practice case study from Hilton Malta showed that black
water treatment produces water which is cheaper than mains tap water, bowser supplied
groundwater and in-house reverse osmosis fresh water. Another best practice example from
APS Bank shows that rainwater can supply 36% of a head office’s water demand including
toilet flushing, floor washing, fire drills, and irrigation.
The opportunity for large scale savings by individual businesses and hotels, through
eliminating wasteful consumption and sourcing sustainable sources of water, is clearly
significant.
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3. Agenda
Date: 22nd June 2012
Venue: The Grand Ballroom, Radisson Hotel, St Julians
Time: 09:00 – 14:40
09:00 – 09:30 Introducing the project and the conference
Mr George Vella, MBB President opened the conference, following by Dr Marie Louise
Mangion, Head Tourism and Sustainable Development Unit, Ministry of Tourism, Culture
and the Environment, who delivered the opening speech. Mr Geoffrey Saliba, EU LIFE+
Investing in Water Project Manager closed this session by providing an update on the project
to date and project actions over the coming months. The session was chaired by MBB Chief
Executive Officer Joe Tanti.
09:30 – 10:15 Water Scarcity and Consumption in Malta
The severity of water scarcity in Malta was detailed by Mr Manuel Sapiano, Malta Resources
Authority Hydrologist while Ing Marco Cremona, Water Expert to the EU LIFE+ Investing in
Water Project, presented an analysis of water consumption by various industries locally. The
session was chaired by Mr Andrew Aguis Muscat, MHRA Chief Executive Officer.
10:45 – 11:30 Tackling water scarcity – National and EU Policy
Mr Manuel Sapiano Malta Resources Authority Hydrologist discussed national water policy
and legislation while Mr Peter Gammeltoft, Head of Water Protection Unit, DG ENV,
presented EU legislation and policy. Mr Tancred Tabone, Malta Chamber President, opened
the questions and answers with a key intervention. The session was chaired by Mr Martin
Bugelli, Head of European Commission Representation in Malta.
11:30 – 12:45 Case Studies – best practice in water management
Ing Joseph Restall presented water savings best practice in the Hilton Hotel, followed by Mr
Victor Buhagiar presenting the APS Bank’s best practice. Dr Fabio Masi PHD discussed
conclusions from the Italian LIFE WATACLIC Project and Mrs Konstantina Toli presented
conclusions from the GWP-Med, Alter Aqua Programme. The session concluded with
questions and answers, opened through a key intervention by Mr Tony Zahra, MHRA
President, and was chaired by Perit Philip Grech, member of the Malta Water Association.
13:45 – 14:40 Discussion – Realising Water Savings in Industry
Attendees and speakers participated in a debate discussing the potential and challenges
industry faces in adopting water conservation measures, chaired by Dr Andrew Azzopardi
from the University of Malta. Ing. Anthony Rizzo, MRA CEO Ing. Anthony Rizzo closed the
debate.
Presentations and speeches closed at 14:40, leaving attendees free to visit on-site stands
with information by providers of water saving products and services on the local market.
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4. Speeches
1. Mr George Vella, President, Malta Business Bureau
George Vella explained that the MBB was set up 15 years ago by the Malta Chamber of
Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, with
the objective of representing businesses in the EU. The three main objectives of the MBB
are:
Keeping its members informed of EU affairs that affect local business interests,
Voicing concerns on EU affairs which could be of detriment to local business
interests,
Promoting EU Affairs of benefit to local businesses.
He highlighted that through the project the MBB is promoting the LIFE programmes in the
hope that by leading the way more enterprises will take advantage of such programmes. He
also highlighted that water is a scarce resource and managing it is important for enterprises
to be both financially and environmentally sustainable.
Mr Vella concluded by stating that through the project the
MBB is not only raising awareness about the gravity of the
water scarcity problem, but also empowering enterprises
to improve their sustainability by adopting water saving
solutions.
2. Dr Marie Louise Mangion, Director of Sustainability Unit, Ministry for Tourism,
Culture and the Environment
Dr Mangion outlined the key factors
affecting water scarcity in Malta; a limited
natural supply of groundwater, the energy
intensive and expensive nature of seawater
desalination, Malta’s large number of
incoming tourists adding to the country’s water demand, and the expected decrease in
annual rainfall due to climate change.
She then highlighted the importance of looking into a more efficient consumption of water
and the importance of good governance. Dr Mangion stressed the importance of Malta’s
National Water Policy which includes a number of water management measures.
The EU’s Water Framework Directive is being implemented in Malta through the Water
Catchment Management Plan. This plan was developed by the Malta Resources Authority
We would not only like to raise
awareness, but also empower
enterprises to improve their
sustainability.
By saving water enterprises are both reducing
costs as well as complimenting national water
management efforts.
Session 1
Introducing the project and the conference
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together with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, with an inter-ministerial
committee monitoring the progress of implementation. Dr Mangion stated that the plan is so
far moving to schedule.
While government and local authorities are working to tackle water scarcity, the private
sector also had a role to play. Dr Mangion highlighted the financial benefits to conserving
water, as reflected in lower running costs for commercial enterprises, and recognised the
effort made by enterprises in collaborating with the project.
Dr Mangion concluded by encouraging more enterprises to join the project, and by affirming
the Ministry’s support for the project as the main co-financier.
3. Mr Geoffrey Saliba, EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project Manager, Malta
Business Bureau
Geoffrey Saliba explained that Malta is one of
the World’s top ten water scarce countries.
Due to the limited available freshwater
reserves, demand is higher than what nature
can supply.
To cope with the imbalance Malta has resorted to withdrawing more groundwater than is
naturally sustainable. Coupled with pollution from nitrate sources, this over-extraction of
groundwater reserves has led to a deterioration in quality and quantity of groundwater
bodies.
Over-extraction of groundwater is still not enough to compensate for lack of natural water
supplies. Reverse Osmosis desalination plants have therefore been relied upon to generate
freshwater from seawater. These plants however, consume at least 4% of Malta’s electricity,
making reverse osmosis an energy intensive and expensive method of generating
freshwater.
Given the deterioration of natural freshwater bodies and the energy intensive methods
employed to compensate for a demand which is higher than Malta’s natural capacity,
efficient and sustainable management of water reserves is very important for Malta.
The EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project aims to help businesses and hotels reduce their
water consumption by 10%. It is doing this by identifying water savings solutions and sharing
best practices with enterprises.
Mr Saliba went on to describe the progress of the project so far, where a first set of Water
Audits with a sample group of 39 businesses and hotels have already been carried out.
Through the audits water saving solutions has been identified. The project will carry out a
second set of water audits with a larger group of enterprises starting in the third quarter of
2012. To further help enterprises save water a solutions pack will also be published,
detailing water saving solutions and offering guidance on how to carry out self-assessments.
This solutions pack will also share best practice. The project will offer training to technical
and general staff through workshops, and distribute water saving signs to enterprises.
Mr Saliba closed his speech by inviting interested enterprises and hotels to make contact
with the project.
The EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project
aims to help businesses and hotels save
water.
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4. Mr. Manuel Sapiano, Malta Resources Authority Senior Analyst (Hydrology)
Manuel Sapiano highlighted that groundwater
abstraction is currently estimated at 33 million m3, while
the amount of groundwater sustainably available for
extraction is estimated at 23 million m3.
Mr Sapiano then discussed two scenarios through
which Malta could resolve the water scarcity issue.
The first involves the management of water available locally. This would capitalise on
existing and planned management of natural resources and alternative water supplies. The
measures and quantities of freshwater available include:
1) Utilisation of surface runoff, which is currently constrained by reservoir carrying-over
capacity (2-3Mm3),
2) Malta’s 15 unconfined aquifers have a potential safe yield of 23-25Mm3/year,
3) The reverse osmosis desalination facilities have a capacity of 26-30Mm3/year,
4) Plans are in the pipeline to treated 17Mm3 per year of sewage effluent.
This scenario would result in the islands sustainably producing around 50Mm3/year. Demand
is currently higher than 50Mm3/year, however through the second scenario a water demand
management policy would reduce demand to what can be produced and sustainably
abstracted - just below 50Mm3/year.
Mr Sapiano emphasized that the way forward is to implement both scenarios, with the
support of all stakeholders.
He concluded his presentation by highlighting that Malta has an average water footprint of
2216 m³/year per capita, which is significantly higher than the global average of 1385
m³/year per capita. 91.7 % of Malta’s footprint falls outside the country, making it a net
importer of water.
Malta is extracting 48% more
groundwater than is sustainably
available.
Session 2
Water Scarcity and Consumption in Malta
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5. Ing. Marco Cremona, Water Expert to the EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project
Ing. Cremona explained that the project has
so far audited 20 businesses and 19 hotels.
Businesses came from the pharmaceutical,
manufacturing, services and importation,
beverage sectors and also included offices.
Hotels ranged from simple three star hotels to luxurious five star resorts. Through the audits
various water saving solutions were identified, including interventions on showers, wash-
hand basin taps, and toilets as well as rainwater harvesting and waste-water treatment.
The project is gathering the most in-depth water consumption data available for businesses
and hotels to date in Malta. This has allowed it to identify water consumption benchmarks for
businesses and hotels (see PPT for further details). The information also showed that
businesses use 4 sources of water; tap water, rainwater, bowser supplied groundwater, and
borehole extracted groundwater. Hotels use up to eight sources; tap water, rainwater,
bowser supplied groundwater, borehole extracted groundwater, seawater, reverse-osmosis
water and treated black and grey waste-water.
The project found a strong element of over-design present in many facilities, leading to
wasteful consumption. It is therefore recommending best practice standard water flows to
guide enterprises in decreasing their consumption;
Showers - 7 litres per minute
Wash-hand basins taps - 5 litres per minute
Toilets - 6 litres per flush
The project identified that 85% of businesses and 75% of hotels exceed these standards,
highlighting the potential for significant water savings by enterprises across the board.
85% of businesses and 75% of hotels exceed
best practice water flows, leading to
significant water wastage.
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6. Mr Manuel Sapiano, Malta Resources Authority Senior Analyst (Hydrology)
The need for a national water policy has been felt as
initiatives taken previously have not been effective in
combating water scarcity. The relatively new national
water policy does not specifically look into sectorial
approaches of ground water, desalinated water and
treated water, but rather offers a holistic approach.
The first key objective of the national water policy is the supply of good quality water to meet
the needs of the population. Tap water is currently of suitable quality however, this quality is
in danger of decreasing once the aquifers exceed their sustainable yield threshold. Another
key objective is the sustainable use and management of national water sources.
Sustainability requires the efficient use of water sources. One of the most important key
objectives is the fair and transparent regulation of the water industry. The introduction of
licenses of water distributors has reduced illegal groundwater extraction; however this still
remains a serious problem. Flooding also remains a problem due to many valleys being built
up, with this development being a large contributor to the causing of run-off water.
Other key objectives include the protection of water resources and the aquatic environment
from pollution, as well as adaptation to climate change which will have a serious effect on
Malta’s water sources. Tackling both these key objectives is still in the planning stage
however, work has initiated with regards to climate change adaptation, nitrates action and
Water Services Corporation management. Monitoring programmes and public awareness
campaigns are already being undertaken.
A key objective of Malta’s water
policy is the sustainable use and
management of national water
sources. Sustainability requires the
efficient use of water.
Session 3
Tackling water scarcity – National and EU Policy
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7. Mr Peter Gammeltoft, Head of Water Protection Unit, DG ENV
Mr Gammeltoft highlighting the principles of
EU water policy, which include the
achievement of good status in all water
bodies with no further deterioration. The
objectives are to be achieved through the
formation of economic instruments and
water pricing, amongst other instruments.
With regards to water pricing Mr
Gammeltoft stated that member states have
an obligation to establish cost recovery for water services. These costs should include
environmental and resources costs, and ensure that different water users adequately
contribute to cost recovery. The costs should take into consideration social, environmental
and economic effects, and climatic and geographic conditions, and may be disaggregated to
households, industry and agriculture. The obligation was to implement these costs by 1st
January 2010, and the policy should aim to be an incentive to use water efficiently, while
contributing to the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
Mr Gammeltoft went on to highlight that under the Water Framework Directive, the objective
for 2015 is to have water bodies in ‘Good Status’. This involves water bodies meeting
chemical, biological, and quantitative standards with deterioration halted.
Of the EU’s member states only 4 have failed to adopt River Basin Management Plans as
required under the Water Framework Directive, all of which have been taken to the
European Court of Justice with 2 court rulings having been concluded.
Of the other states positive preliminary findings include a high uptake of the common
framework and common language on water management provided by the directive, an
integration of ecological perspective into water management, public participation and
stakeholder involvement, and an impressive improvement in the knowledge base.
Negative preliminary findings include the low ambition in many of the plans (extensive use of
derogations/exemptions), the lack of concrete measures and expected achievements, and
insufficient Water Pricing, with dressing of the implemented directive as “business-as-usual”.
Member states have an obligation to
establish cost recovery for “water services”,
including environmental and resources costs,
which should have been done by 1st January
2010. Member states also need to ensure
that water bodies are restored to ‘Good
Status’ by 2015, with no further
deterioration.
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8. Mr Tancred Tabone, President, Malta Chamber
One of the best forms of conservation is tariffs
– anything free and easily available is not
appreciated and inevitably leads to waste. In
deciding on costs however, the effect of high
tariffs on business needs to be considered.
Another two forms of water conservation
easily practiced in Malta are recycling and rainwater collection.
Recycling allows use of the same resource twice, after having undergone the necessary
treatment. Malta has previously only treated waste water as a pollution control measure prior
to dumping treated effluent at sea; however it is positive to note announced intentions of
treating sewage effluent to a standard that would allow its re-use by agriculture and industry.
Rainwater collection is another component in the efficient use of water which enhances
supply capabilities. Dams and household reservoirs have been constructed since the 1600’s
however, we have lost this best practice over the ages and instead have increased
extraction of groundwater, leading to incursion of seawater into our aquifers. This has led to
salinifcation of agricultural surfaces, where extracted groundwater in some locations is even
being desalinated by individual farmers prior to irrigation.
There is significant potential in Malta’s industrial estates and factory areas for rainwater
harvesting however, adequate infrastructure is not in place. Since the premises are often not
occupant owned the decision to invest in such infrastructure does not always fall solely with
the enterprise.
The benefits of re-using treated sewage effluent and harvesting rainwater would contribute
to dealing with water scarcity, while also lowering the costs for enterprises.
There is significant potential in Malta’s
industrial estates and factory areas for
rainwater harvesting however, adequate
infrastructure is not in place.
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The Hilton’s sewage treatment
plant produces 2nd class water at
€0.90 – cheaper than tap water,
bowser supplied groundwater,
and in-house reverse osmosis
desalinated water.
9. Mr Victor Buhagiar, Manager Administration APS Bank
Victor Buhagiar highlighted the APS Bank’s
commitment to sustainable development and
discussed the bank’s careful management of
water resources at its head office. The aim of
the water management programme was to
put the bank’s sustainability policy into practice, reduce operational costs and help conserve
scarce national resources.
The bank makes use of several sources of water which include tap water, rainwater, bowser
supplied groundwater, and reject water from domestic reverse-osmosis units in the premises
kitchenettes. Rainwater provides 36% of water used by the premises, while tap water and
bowser supplied groundwater provide around 25% each of the remainder. Reverse-osmosis
reject water forms the remaining 14%.
While tap water is used for all potable applications, rainwater, bowser supplied groundwater
and reverse-osmosis reject are used for 2nd class water applications, such as fire-fighting
and flushing toilets.
Mr Buhagiar detailed measures taken to ensure minimal water wastage at specific faciltiies.
All toilet facilities are operated by sensor controlled units, thus delivering a fixed amount of
water per use. The benefits of such systems are the control over consumption and usage,
although this comes at a higher price than conventional manual units. Sealed and covered
planters are used to limit water loss due to evaporation and ground absorption.
10. Ing. Joseph Restall, Chief Engineer, Hilton Malta
Ing. Restall explained the Hilton’s approach to water
management, which involves both cutting down on
waste from various facilities as well as using
sustainable sources of 2nd class water.
Water saving restrictors were fitted to showers and
wash-hand basins to maintain a flow of 6-7 litres per
minute, while public urinals were fitted with automatic
sensors. The restrictors alone resulted in an estimated 35-40% reduction in water
consumption.
In addition to these measures the hotel harvests rainwater, and in 2011 collected around
8000m3. An interesting approach to water management is the use of an environmentally
friendly Copper based disinfectant in pools, in place of Chlorine. This allows pool backwash
water to be re-used for second class applications and at peak saves 32 m3 /day.
Harvested rainwater satisfies 36% of the
total water consumption at the APS Bank’s
Head Office.
Session 4
Case Studies – best practice in water management
14
The Hilton also operates its own sewage treatment plant, treating hotel effluent and
generating up to 120 m3 /day of second class water. The water is produced at a cost of only
€0.9/m3 as opposed €2.5/m3 for tap water or €1.45/m3 for bowser supplied groundwater.
The 2nd class water produced by the Hilton is used to flush toilets and for landscaping.
Excess water is often produced from the sewage plant, in which case it is sold.
11. Dr. Fabio Masi, Iridra Technical Director - Scientific Manager, LIFE WATACLIC
Project
Dr. Fabio Masi explained the main scope of
the project; that of campaigning towards the
reduction of water consumption. He
explained how water saving measures such
as water metering, water saving taps and
shower heads could reduce the amount of
water used per capita.
Using interventions on taps as an example, Dr Masi explained how implementing restrictors
could reduce tap flow by as much as 3.8 liters. He then explained how the separation of
wastewater into grey water and black water could bring added water saving benefits – grey
water treatment could increase water savings between 60% and 70%.
He emphasized that this is an attractive option for hotels, which could use compact systems
such as sequencing batch reactors, anaerobic digestion and bio-membrane treatments,
which would all constitute an economically attractive grey water treatment system, as well as
constructed wetlands integrated in the green architectural elements.
Dr. Masi noted that the implementation of flow reducing devices, coupled with waste water
treatment and an in-house non potable water distribution network, could reduce the amount
of water consumed per capita in the domestic sphere from 200 to 60 liters per day. If only
flow reducing devices are used then the reduction is to 150 liters per day per capita.
The WATACLIC Project has drafted policies which include; new urban planning and building
regulations to guide new ventures on water saving techniques, and the introduction of
economic incentives as well as a tariffing system whereby the price of water would be
directly proportionate to implemented water saving measures.
In the local context Dr Masi highlighted the benefits of a mandatory dual distribution network
here in Malta. He explained that such system would provide a greater potential for use of 2nd
class water such as treated wastewater and rainwater.
Flow reducing devices, waste water
treatment and an in-house non potable
water distribution network could reduce
water consumption per capita in the
domestic sphere from 200 to 60 litres per
day.
15
12. Mrs Konstantina Toli, Programme Office, Alter Aqua GWP-Med Project
A ‘water secure world’ is the vision adopted by the Non-Conventional Water Resource
Programme currently taking place in Malta.
The project was originally carried out in Greece but due to its success it was expanded to
include other countries within the Mediterranean region. Malta, Cyprus, Greece, Spain and
Italy, being touristic countries with a severely water-stressed situation were all suitable
candidates for this project. The project has the main aim of ensuring that rainwater-
harvesting techniques are adopted within the above-mentioned countries. Rainwater
harvesting was chosen as the project’s focus as a cost-effective and sustainable way of
sourcing quality 2nd class water.
Ms Toli presented a set of figures that showed the success of the project in the Cyclades
Island within Greece. By the end of the year 2011, 15 systems were installed in Tinos,
Syros, Santorini and Naxos amongst others which lead to an estimated water yield of 6.5 to
7 million liters per year. A system set up on Santorini explored a new kind of rain water
harvesting system using underground modular water tanks which could easily be
constructed to meet unconventional shape
and size restrictions of individual sites. This
innovative technology allowed premises with
little space for conventional reservoirs to also
harvest rainwater – removing a barrier
previously preventing rainwater harvesting on
many premises.
13. Mr Tony Zahra, MHRA President
Tony Zahra stated that hotels consider it
important to decrease their water
consumption as a cost cutting exercise and
from an environmental responsibility point of
view.
He moved on to stress that hotels spend a significant portion of their income on utilities, and
that while in-house efforts to cut costs are important, the industry would also like to see a
national effort at better managing utilities. He highlighted that nearly half of the water
produced locally by the Water Services Corporation is either lost through leakages or
consumed without being paid for as an apparent loss. Paying consumers, including hotels,
are therefore financing serious inefficiencies in management which is negatively impacting
on them financially.
Modular tanks can be constructed in
unconventional shapes and sizes. This allows
sites with limited space to install reservoirs
and harvest rainwater, removing a long
standing barrier to rainwater harvesting.
Nearly half the water produced is either lost
through leakages or consumed without
being paid for as an apparent loss.
16
14. Ing. Anthony Rizzo, CEO Malta Resources Authority
Ing. Rizzo highlighted the scarcity of freshwater resources in the Med and especially in Malta
where the main resources are aquifers. An increasing population and standard of living has
resulted in an exponential increase in water demand. The increase in abstraction to meet
this demand has resulting in increased pressure on the islands aquifer systems. The end
result has been a marked deterioration in quality of abstracted groundwater.
Government understands the need for resolving this situation which involves safeguarding
the sustainability of our future. Some of the main successful measures government has
taken:
1) Introduction of Reverse Osmosis to alleviate water demand,
2) Launch of water control by Water Services Corporation focused on network leak
control. Now the actual leakage rate is only 18% with additional apparent losses at
31% (made of metering, billing, under-registration),
3) Commission of three new waste-water plants which apart from ensuring improved
quality of coastal waters, have also created potential for a new water resource in
place of groundwater,
4) A register of groundwater boreholes and requirement of all commercial and
agricultural extractors to fit a volumetric meter,
5) Use of fiscal initiatives for rainwater harvesting systems by agricultural sector,
6) Upgrading of water meters.
Government has placed all these and others into a sound policy framework, launched this
month as the National Water Policy. This introduces the following objectives:
1) Provision of good quality water,
2) Protection of aquatic resources,
3) Sustainable use of the nation’s water resources,
4) Fair and transparent regulation,
5) Mitigation of storm water runoff,
6) Adapting climate change impact.
Ing. Rizzo congratulated the MBB for the project, the objectives of which fit closely with the
framework created by the policy. He stated that the project, by focusing on both efficiency in
use of water and potential of using alternative water resources, provides a case of best
practice on how the private sector can positively engage in sustaining government efforts to
ensure a sustainable future for Malta.
Closing speech
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5. Speaker contact details
George Vella
President
Malta Business Bureau
00356 21 251 791
www.mbb.org.mt
Dr. Marie Louise Mangion
Director, Tourism and Sustainability
Unit
Ministry for Tourism, Culture and the
Environment
00356 2291 5058
www.tourism.gov.mt
Geoffrey Saliba
EU LIFE+ Investing in Water, Project
Manager
Malta Business Bureau
00356 21 251 719 or
www.investinginwater.org
www.mbb.org.mt
Manuel Sapiano
Senior Analyst (Hydrology)
Malta Resources Authority
www.mra.org.mt
Ing. Marco Cremona
EU LIFE+ Investing in Water, Expert
00356 21 251 719
www.investinginwater.org
www.mbb.org.mt
Peter Gammeltoft
Head of Unit, Water Protection Unit,
DG ENV 00322 29686 95
Victor Buhagiar
Manager Administration
APS Bank
00356 25 603 396
www.apsbank.com.mt
Ing. Joseph Restall
Hilton Malta
www.hiltonmaltahotel.com
Dr Fabio Masi, Ph.D. Env.Sci.,
Environmental Chemist
Technical Director - Scientific Manager
IRIDRA
0039 055 470729
www.iridra.com
Konstantina Toli
Alter Aqua Programme Officer
Global Water Partnership -
Mediterranean (GWP-Med)
0030210-3247490
www.gwpmed.org
Mr Tony Zahra
President
MHRA
00356 25 760 000
www.mhra.org.mt
Ing. Anthony Rizzo
Chief Executive Officer
Malta Resources Authority
www.mra.org.mt
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
18
For more information please contact:
Geoffrey Saliba
Project Manager
EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project
Malta Business Bureau, Casa Leone, Pjazza Robert Samut, Floriana, Malta
Tel: +356 21 251 719 | E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.investinginwater.org, www.mbb.org.mt
In Partnership with
Project co-financiers and sponsors
Event supporters
Ministry for Tourism, Culture and the
Environment
FM Environmental (Malta) Ltd
Water Technology House, A15B, Marsa Ind Estate, Marsa , MRS3000
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +356 2122 6172 • Fax: +356 2122 6171
Web: www.fmenvironmental.com www.greaseguardian.com
Panta Marketing & Services Ltd
Triq il-Wied Tal-Imsida, Msida, MSD 9024, Malta
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +356 2144 1361 Fax: +356 2144 0000
Web: www.pantalesco.com