Towards a sustainable water governance framework in Malta

Abstract

Malta is a water stressed country. Since the early eighties Malta relied heavily on augmenting its water supply through energy intensive, and hence expensive, desalinated water to meet overall water demands. Years of overabstraction from groundwater bodies resulted in a deterioration of their qualitative and quantitative status in default of Water Framework Directive provisions. Considered as a social commodity, water has always been subject to generous subsidies. Unchecked illegal abstraction of groundwater has continued to erode the value of water creating a certain impasse in the sustainable management of water resources in Malta. Developing a sustainable water governance framework for Malta has never been as important a challenge as Malta faces up to its obligations. Unfortunately, water resources have often been caught up in the midst of political bickering on their cost and availability. Valuing the full cost of water has probably never been contemplated as attempts to reflect the progressive adjusted cost of water have led to a general level of discontent amongst the electorate. As a result of these developments the water resource has been taken for granted. Societal attitudes towards water resources are key to crystallise the landscape within which a water governance framework is to be developed, avoiding erroneous assumptions that could compromise its acceptance and implementation. This framework needs to be inclusive and hence the involvement of all stakeholders is mandatory. A social network analysis indicated a scenario of fringe and core actors, highlighting the need to ensure full integration of stakeholders in the development of a governance framework. The OECD's water governance initiative was used to characterise Malta's current status to identify the gaps that exist. The more involved stakeholders were asked to further assess the parameters of a robust water governance framework to establish the magnitude of the gaps that exists. Recommendations aimed at shoring up existing water governance arrangements, increasing societal appreciation of water resources as well as to value the resource in economic, social and environmental terms are put forward. It is hoped that this work can serve the Government of Malta in committing itself further to the sustainable development of water resources.