The European Union (EU) has assigned GBP250,000 to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and the Malta Resources Authority (MRA) for the project of long-term sustainable management of all water resources, including groundwater, coastal water and inland surface water. These funds will be utilized to prepare and plan the actions to protect water resources in Malta.
MEPA and MRA have collaborated with the French Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning and with the experts from the International Office of Water to distribute sustainable water management project.
MEPA is responsible for groundwater protection while MRA is responsible for inland surface waters and for coastal waters protection.
Both the authorities will recognize and characterize water bodies, examine pressures and impacts for each water body, and create a programme of management measures. An economic analysis will be carried out to review the cost effectiveness of each measure. Then, a Water Catchment Management plan will be prepared.
MEPA said that the adoption of the plan will help to improve freshwater quality and availability, protect the environment and conserve ecosystems.
MEPA has also reported, As the country with the smallest freshwater reserves in the Mediterranean, there is little doubt that protection of Malta’s water resources is critical, not only environmentally, but also economically and socially.