Determining the potential for water conservation in educational institutions

Abstract

Malta's natural freshwater resources have long been experiencing great pressure and alternative water production methods in the form of distillation and subsequently desalination have had to be resorted to. In fact, desalinated water accounted for approximately 55% of total water production in 2008 (NSO, 2009). Over abstraction leads to increasing salinity levels in groundwater, comprising its quality and thereby increasing the dependence on desalination plants. This could also have an effect on the cost of water which would increase substantially, causing considerable financial burdens on the Maltese citizens. Water conservation and its effect on demand side management therefore merit strong focus in order to reduce water consumption from source.