Water bowsers, unregulated but still pumping

The delay is being caused by problems in the tendering process, a spokesperson for the Malta Resources Authority told MaltaToday.

Demand for groundwater provided by bowsers is set to increase after the MRA clamped down on 200 private boreholes used for domestic purposes like swimming pools. These households will probably start buying their water supply from bowsers who still get their water free of charge from the water table.

Asked what steps are being taken to ensure that this measure will not increase demand for groundwater extracted from private bowsers, a spokesperson for the MRA explained that groundwater sources registered for commercial use are now being metered.

“After the monitoring period, abstraction of water for commercial use will be against a charge.”

Presently, Bowsers extract water without paying any charge, only to sell it at a profit. And the MRA still does not know how much water is being extracted by this activity.

The groundwater sources used commercially are now being metered and thus the Authority will soon have estimates. In the meantime, the tracking system announced by Minister George Pullicino in November 2009 remains elusive.

Through the new system, water bowsers will be required to have a load cell. In this way, the authorities would know where the bowers are being loaded with water, where the water is delivered, and the volumes involved. They would also know if the groundwater is being used for agriculture or for commercial purposes. This would discourage unlawful groundwater extraction.

The MRA spokesperson claimed that the procurement is taking longer than originally proposed. “The Tender was issued twice and could not be awarded as submissions were either administratively or technically non compliant.”  

The Contracts Department has now approved that the Authority follows a negotiated procedure. The Authority will be contacting the suppliers to enter into negotiations and select the most advantageous offer.