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Malta
Focal Point
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A historical overview of water supply in the Maltese Islands The first settlers and the need for water The gu Several tanks were constructed during the Punic and Roman times for the storage of fresh water. However it was during the time of the Arabs that water extractions by means of animal driven devices were introduced. These are better known as the Water Wheel or Sienja in Maltese.
Water during the time of the Knights Before the Knights of St. John
came to the Islands, in 1530, the water resources of the Archipelago were
described as being "salty and sedimentary" by the delegation that was sent to
the Islands to check on the existing state of the Islands. The Maltese still
stored water in cisterns and even in ditches. After the founding of Valletta in
1566 by the Knights, several measures were set up to conserve water resources.
The provision of fresh water was considered to be of paramount importance to the
inhabitants of Valletta since the lack of it could have drastic consequences
especially during a siege. Thus regulations were set up to prohibit gardens in
the city and enforce the construction of a well in every house. These measures
were, however, insufficient and several attempts by various grandmasters
followed to further secure the water supply in the city.
Abstraction of Groundwater However when a dry spell befell the Islands during 1834-1841, this aqueduct proved to be insufficient. The British had to construct another aqueduct known as the Fawwara aqueduct in order to carry water from the southern extreme of the Rabat-Dingli plateau to Mqabba, Luqa, Tarxien, Paola and the Three Cities. Another system of aqueducts was built between Victoria and Ta' Pinu during 1839-1843 by Governor Sir Henry F. Bouverie to secure water within the water reservoir of the Victoria citadel. Further to this an intensive water exploration campaign took place later (1864-1866) whereby a total of 175 shafts and a number of galleries were dug into the Upper Coralline limestone. These sources of water were then connected to the Wignacourt aqueduct, and an increase is the output of water by 700m3, resulted. The Chadwick lakes, a series of dammed water courses, so named after Robert Chadwick, were also constructed and used for irrigation. Not all the Maltese population, however, was supplied by these aqueducts. Many stored rainwater in private and public underground reservoirs, some of the latter of which were enlarged to increase their storage capacity. These reservoirs were considered to be a more secure and safer way to have water at their disposal. Such reservoirs, however, were highly vulnerable to pollution from a number of sources such as sewage and cesspit leaks, effluent from animal excreta and vermin. This situation was mainly responsible for the high death rates and frequent outbreaks of various epidemics such as that of cholera in 1865. There were also two typhoid outbreaks in the beginning of the 20th Century. The road to the improvement in water quality was initiated in 1909 when with the recommendations of Sir Temi Zammit and A.H Morris sterilization by means of chlorination was carried out. Further to this the open channel system was replaced with that of a closed one. Routine quality programmes were also initiated by the Health Authorities, the results of which were recorded in annual reports. Abstracting water from the mean sea level aquifer In 1854 a deep shaft was dug at Ta' L-Armier located between the towns of Qormi and Marsa. Although he quality of the water was found to be of lesser quality than that of the perched aquifers, a total of 3000m3/day was abstracted and directed mainly to the settlements of the Inner and Outer harbour areas as well as Lija, Attard, Mosta and Balzan. In 1887 the start of the construction of the Wied il-Kbir pumping station was another major development on the mean sea level aquifer, followed by the Wied is-Sewda and Tal-Hlas pumping stations. In the early 1900's the Wied il-Kbir and Wied is-Sewda pumping stations were connected by a gallery which brought about a marked increase in production. During the First World War there was a high increase in the demand for water and thus it was recommended that the deepening of existing galleries together with the construction of new galleries at Birzebbugia. However this all the more meant further deterioration in the quality of groundwater. The Wied Dalam pumping station of Birzebbugia gave low input and even this was of low quality. The deepening of the Wied il-Kbir and Wied is-Sewda galleries neither resulted in a greater quantity in the supply of water. Another gallery was commissioned at Wied il-Ghasel. Despite its average output of 1900m3/day, saline water intrusion resulted due to its proximity to the coast. The Second World War brought with it a further increase in demand. Dr. Bailey, the Director of the Geological Survey at that time, recommended the drilling of boreholes 15m deeper than sea level. 14 were drilled in the Lower Coralline Limestone and another 23 in the Upper Coralline Limestone. However not all proved to yield water of suitable quality or quantity. Thus the authorities were compelled to continue driving galleries at sea level and construct pumping stations at the intersection of these galleries. Thus the Ta' Qali galleries were dug but the plan to connect such galleries with those of Tal-Hlas failed and the project was abandoned. With the help of the recommendations put forward by T.O. Morris in 1952, an extensive gallery driving programme in the Mean Sea Level Aquifer and Perched Aquifers commenced in 1955. After Independence Rapid growth both in terms of economy and population brought about yet again an increase in demand. To aggravate the situation chloride levels were increasing with increased abstraction and the Government was compelled to turn to alternative sources. In 1963 it was resolved that a multi-stage flash distillation plant should be built since this was considered to be the most efficient way to produce water that could be used for reasons of consumption. In 1969 what is known as the ATIGA report projected that a total production from these Multi-Stage flash plants would reach 50,000m3/day by 1996. The oil crisis of the early seventies hindered this and only 4 multi-stage Flash distillation plants were installed. In 1972 the further exploitation of groundwater was required in order to make up for the lack of water production and thus 150 boreholes were drilled in the Mean sea level aquifer after being recommended by the ATIGA report in 1969. This all the more exacerbated the increasing chloride levels and water quality continues to deteriorate. Hence, yet again, the Government had to resort to alternative ways of producing water sufficient for the ever growing demand. In the late seventies the Government decided to install the new technology of the Reverse Osmosis desalinisation plant. In 1982 the Ghar Lapsi plat was installed to supply water to the south western part of Malta. When it was installed it became the largest ever to be built in the world. another four were constructed after that: 1 at Tigne` in the Northeast, another at Marsa, one at Pembroke and one in the extreme North at Cirkewwa. Present day the Pembroke, Cirkewwa and Ghar Lapsi desalinisation plants are still functioning and nearly supply 50% of Malta's water needs.
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