EU Membership and Water Quality in Malta. Q&A Fact File

EU Membership and Water Quality in Malta. Q&A Fact File

Why Does the EU Have a Policy on Water? Because water resources are very limited and are often much polluted. Recent statistics show that industry alone uses 53% of the world s water resources. Agriculture and households use 26% and 19% respectively. The EU water policy is based on two fundamental principles: to regulate the use of water as a scarce resource and to improve the quality of drinking water, bathing water, groundwater, as well as a water used in agriculture and for the cultivation of fish and shellfish.

Does EU Law Rule Out Subsidies for Water? EU law encourages the sustainable use of water. The price of water should normally reflect the real price of production. However, countries like Malta which have a real problem of water supply can still subsidise the price of water if they feel that this is necessary to ensure that the public gets a service at a reasonable price.

What Was Negotiated by Malta on Drinking Water? The EU has high standards on the quality of drinking water that aim at reducing the levels of dangerous substances, such as lead and nitrates. On this law, Malta negotiated a transition period until the end of 2005 to take the necessary action to reach targets on nitrates and fluoride. Malta had originally also requested a similar period to reduce conductivity, chloride, sodium, sulphate and iron. However this request was dropped because EU standards on these substances are indicative and not compulsory.

What Was Negotiated by Malta on Drinking Water? Malta will still reach targets for conductivity, chloride, sodium and sulphate by the end of 2006 and for iron by the end of 2007. Malta is already in line with EU standards on microbiological agents in water. For other substances, such as lead, Malta will come into line by accession.

Who Will Ensure That Drinking Water in Malta Is Truly up to EU Standards? The Health Division within the Ministry of Health will be responsible for implementing EU standards on water quality. This Division and the Water Services Corporation will continue to carry out regular monitoring of drinking water. To this end, the Environment Health Branch will be strengthened by the recruitment of further personnel.

What Does the EU Say on Waste Water? Most illnesses attributed to polluted bathing water find their origins in the discharge of sewage into the sea. EU law deals with both the collection and treatment of wastewater. EU countries must collect urban wastewater and this should go through treatment to remove suspended solids, dissolved organic matters and nutrients as well as microbes at each stage of treatment. Sewage cannot be dumped into the sea untreated.

How Do We Deal With Sewage in Malta Today? In Malta, sewage is still being discharged untreated into the open sea. During negotiations Malta obtained a transition period until 2007 to implement EU law and to set up the necessary infrastructure for wastewater treatment. A Sewerage Master Plan was drawn up and is being implemented. The Drainage Department is also being strengthened by the recruitment of additional scientific and technical personnel.

How the EU Help Us Build Sewage Treatment Plants? Yes, in fact even before membership, Malta obtained pre-accession funding to build its first waste water treatment plant in Gozo. The amount allocated to this project is EUR 3 million, which will cover around 40% of the cost. The project will consist in the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and related infrastructure for the purpose of treating all the sewage generated on the island of Gozo,, before being discharged to the sea. Second class water will be made available for agricultural use.

What About Other Dangerous Substances Disposed Into the Sea? EU law regulates this too. It draws up two lists of dangerous substances which are to be monitored. Those belonging to the first list must be phased out; those belonging to the second list must be reduced. On this law, Malta negotiated a transition period until March 2007 to allow industry to adapt. The Environment Protection Directorate will be responsible for implementing this law and for drafting guidelines on the discharge of treated effluents.

How Is the Quality of Bathing Water Controlled? EU countries must monitor their bathing water regularly according to indicators set in EU law that also includes the aesthetic appearance of the water. Sampling must take place every fortnight and one additional sample should be taken just before the bathing season starts. Every year, the EU issues a report on the quality of bathing water in the EU. The last one that was issued in 2001 stated that around 97% of the coastal bathing areas in Europe respected the limits of EU law. The report covered around 11,502 seaside beaches.

Are Beaches in Malta Monitored? Samples of seawater are regularly carried out at 87 different localities in Malta and Gozo where bathing is permitted by the Department of Public Health. The Environmental Health Unit, which is the unit within the department that is primarily responsible, co-ordinates ordinates and evaluates various general environment-monitoring monitoring programs aimed at reducing health hazards.

Is Information Provided on Which Beaches Are Clean in the EU? Yes, healthy swimming in the EU has been made easier, not just because of the implementation of these laws, but because the results are actually placed on a website, known as the Tourist Atlas. The results are displayed on a map, where anyone can click on a particular beach in a particular country and see for themselves the breakdown of the tests for each beach. This helps tourists make the right choices when choosing their bathing spot. It also increases the pressure on EU countries to adhere to the standards set out in the law, since no country wants bad publicity for its beaches.

What Is the Blue Flag for Beaches? It is a certificate that is awarded to beaches (and marinas), which go beyond mandatory standards and take into consideration other factors such as environmental education, environmental management and safety and services at the beach. The Blue Flag is an EU initiative which operates very much in the same way as the voluntary eco-label on products. Currently, the Blue Flag has 2,750 beaches under its fold in 21 countries. It is operated even in non-eu countries, but is only valid for one season at a time and can be withdrawn.

What If the Government Does Not Enforce EU Standards on Water Quality? It will then expose itself to a complaint from any Maltese citizen who can write to the EU about this shortcoming. A simple letter of complaint from a citizen, even in Maltese, can trigger an investigation into whether the Maltese authorities are applying EU laws. If they are found to be lacking, they will be given time to comply, but if failure persists, the Government can be taken to the EU Court. C After the judgement, if failure continues to persist, the country y can again be taken to the EU Court so that a fine may be imposed. So far, there has only been one case where a country was fined by b the EU under this procedure. Usually, things do not have to go so s far for a country to enforce EU standards.

Is Anyone Responsible for Water As a Resource in Malta? Yes, the Malta Resources Authority is responsible for securing and regulating the conservation of water as a resource. This will also mean the regulation of the treatment, storage, disposal, use or re-use, as appropriate of sewage, waste-water, water, sludge and storm water run-off, the provision of adequate systems of public sewerage, the re-use of treated effluent and the proper disposal of sewage.

Are There Any Specific Laws That Deal With Coasts? Not really, but there is an evolving EU policy on coastal zones. The EU s coastal zones are under constant pressure. Statistics reveal that half the EU s population lives within 50km of the sea. Coastlines are thus facing particular problems, such as badly-planned tourist developments, a declining fishing industry, pollution, poor p transport networks, erosion and habitat destruction. It is for this reason that the EU has drawn up a plan towards more co- ordinated management, involving a greater number of stakeholders in the decision-making processes. The main principles of this Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)( strategy enable decision-makers to: 1. Take a wider view of the problems at hand 2. Take decisions based on good data and information 3. Be flexible and work with the natural forces 4. Involve all stakeholders, and to 5. Make use of a whole range of available legislation and material 5.

Are There Any Regulations on the Quality of Water Used in Agriculture? Yes, EU law regulates the level of chemicals thrown in the soil which mainly occurs through fertilisers or through waste. Since some of these chemicals, especially nitrates, do not evaporate, they are likely to remain in water that can find its way to the water we drink, or consumed by plants (some of which we also eat). EU countries must therefore check the level of these nitrates and see that it is acceptable according to the amount that is laid down d in the EU Law. In Malta, the Department of Agriculture within the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries will be responsible for implementing this t law. (Source Malta EU Information Centre, MIC).