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James Debono
Investments Minister Austin Gatt has told parliament the costs to recycle waste water could be so expensive, that it would be far cheaper to throw it into the sea.
Gatt said the costs to treat sewage water to be then re-used by farmers, could cost as much as 70s per cubic metre when merely disposing of it in the sea instantly would cost 17c per cubic metre – over Lm400,000 a year to throw away treated water.
It is the first indication that government intends to set a hefty price for the use of treated water.
A ministry spokesperson has however told MaltaToday it is still premature to establish a price for the treated sewage effluent because the policy for the recycling of waste water is still being drafted.
But according to an environmental impact assessment for the Cumnija waste water treatment plant in Cirkewwa, which is yet to be constructed, less than 29 per cent of treated water will be used by farmers if this will not come free.
The EIA claims 29 per cent of the water will be re-used if this does comes at no cost to the user.
The government’s intention to recover the cost of treated sewage is also bad news for the prospective developers of golf courses, who could end up paying more than Lm1,000 a day to use recycled water at the price of 70c per cubic metre.
Malta is obliged by the EU’s Water Framework Directive to protect and improve the quality of its water sources, including groundwater.
Presently Malta is extracting an unsustainable amount of groundwater. The rapid emptying of these underground sources are however permitting sea water to penetrate, increasing salinity and deteriorating the quality of the water.
But it will be very difficult to convince users to cut back on groundwater extraction without giving them a viable, cost-effective alternative.
If treated water is offered to farmers at an exorbitant cost Malta could end up discharging a supply of 6,500 cubic meters into the sea 365 days a year – after treating it at a cost of 17c per cubic metre, a grand total of Lm403,325 a year.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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