EU LIFE+ INVESTING IN WATER PROJECT PROJECT PORTFOLIO
Helping businesses and hotels Over the coming two years the project team will be working closely with many businesses and hotels spread throughout Malta and Gozo. The aim of the project is to identify a set of solutions which will allow these enterprises to reduce the amount of service water consumed during their operations. Service water is water consumed by businesses and hotels in providing services to guests and employees.
By identifying solutions
To save water
The solutions will be based on a study of the needs and opportunities present in businesses and hotels. This study will consist of widespread data collection, supported by water audits of a sample group of businesses and hotels.
There are numerous practices and technologies to sustainably reduce water consumption, without reducing the quality or quantity of services provided. These take the form of flow-reducing devices, rainwater collection, water recycling and more.
The information gained through these actions will allow the project to best understand local water consumption and water conservation measures already in place. The project will then identify a range of solutions, tailor made to the local conditions and circumstances of businesses and hotels, which will allow a reduction in water consumption. The solutions will be published and workshops elaborating on the implementation of these solutions will be organised for businesses and hotels. The project will also offer individual technical advice on the implementation of solutions, to further facilitate the adoption of water saving solutions.
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Benefits of saving water In an environment where competition is stiff, lowering running costs by saving water puts money back where it is most important – ensuring your business is as competitive as can be. Tap water reaches us after passing through a long process, involving extraction, treatment and distribution. Once consumed the process resumes – waste water is collected, treated and then disposed of. Saving water reduces the resources required at all process levels. The water cycle performs all the above processes naturally. It does, however, come with an upper limit for the amount of water it can process. Consumption in Malta is well above that limit. Saving water eases pressure on the environment, helping Malta meet its commitments as an EU member state. Caring for business and the environment The project partners represent the majority of hotels and businesses in Malta and Gozo. Through their offices in Malta and Brussels, and working relationship with the Maltese Government and the European Commission, the partners recognise that it is becoming increasingly important for businesses and hotels to further their efforts to reduce water consumption. For this reason the partners have engaged the Maltese Government, the European Commission and various sponsors to financially support the project in making available the technical expertise needed by businesses and hotels to save water.
How can businesses and hotels participate? Enterprises interested in participating will be asked to fill in questionnaires on water consumption, as well as general water-related questionnaires – all information is strictly confidential and only collective results will be publicly used. Additionally, if you feel your enterprise could benefit from a water audit you are welcome to apply for one with the project manager. Once the water saving solutions have been identified and published by the project, enterprises could request meetings where the solutions most relevant to their circumstances will be identified and elaborated upon. Technical workshops will also be held for those enterprises willing to invest in solutions. The project manager can provide further information in a dedicated meeting. If you wish to make such an appointment please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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Deteriorating natural freshwater reserves makes saving water important Water is an important commercial resource Water is critical in the supply of services by businesses and hotels. It is consumed in large quantities and can represent a significant organisational cost. Malta depends heavily on groundwater as it makes up 45% of public water supplied by the Water Services Corporation. It is also the main source of fresh water for many industries and commercial entities. Official statistics show that the amount of groundwater extracted by the private sector now exceeds that produced for public water supply.
Freshwater is scarce Lacking rivers or lakes, groundwater is Malta’s only natural source of fresh water. A limited storage capacity, low annual rainfall and a high population density make groundwater in Malta a scarce resource. The European Commission considers countries with less than 3,000m3 of renewable fresh water per person to be lacking in fresh water. With only an estimated 40m3 per person, Malta is amongst the top ten countries worldwide for water scarcity. There is not enough groundwater to meet the current demand for fresh water. To make up for this lack Malta relies on reverse-osmosis plants to desalinate seawater for public water.
Groundwater is a body of fresh water in subterranean porous rock beds. It rests on a body of seawater, forming a lens-like shape called an aquifer. This freshwater body is a finite resource which is only replenished when rainwater, absorbed by the ground, percolates down to groundwater sources. This is a long process – it can take up to 40 years for rainwater to reach our deeper groundwater sources.
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Groundwater is deteriorating due to pollution and shrinking due to over-extraction Rainwater polluted by nitrates contaminates the groundwater. The main nitrate sources are manure heaps and soil to which excessive fertiliser has been applied, with leaks from cesspits or the sewage network also contributing to a lesser degree. Groundwater pollution is being tackled through the EU LIFE+ InfoNitrates Project, led by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs. Over-extraction of groundwater is also a serious problem. The combined public and private extraction is estimated to result in 48% more groundwater extracted than is naturally replenished on a yearly basis. This over-extraction causes seawater to infiltrate the groundwater source and increase the salinity of remaining groundwater.
The state of Malta’s groundwater All of Malta’s coastal groundwater bodies demonstrate high salinity, while 90% of Malta’s coastal and inland groundwater bodies are contaminated with nitrates. Of Malta’s 18 groundwater bodies only two are not threatened by over-extraction, high salinity or pollutants.
Rising temperatures Evidence shows that the world’s temperature is rising. In fact, the past decade has been the warmest since the 1880s. This trend is expected to continue over the 21st century and beyond. The increased temperatures are causing many environmental changes. These changes are affecting the ecosystems which provide us with essential products and services – such as clean air and fresh water.
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Less fresh water will be available to replenish Malta’s groundwater Groundwater exists because part of the rainfall is absorbed into the ground every year and in time percolates into aquifers where it is stored. However because of climate change, Malta is expected to receive less rain, which will fall in short intense bursts. This will result in increased run-off, most of which will have to be released into the sea to prevent flash flooding, leaving less water available to replenish the aquifers. As this change in rainfall patterns takes place, the amount of water which may be extracted each year without compromising the quality of groundwater will decrease. Malta will therefore need to produce more of its fresh water from alternative sources. Higher temperatures are also expected to increase water demand across the board, further impacting on fresh water production.
Climate change is the change in global weather and rainfall patterns. Although a natural process, greenhouse gasses emitted by human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and de-forestation, are accelerating it beyond its natural rate. In 2005 the average global temperature was 0.76°C higher than that during pre-industrial times.
Less groundwater can be extracted
A ‘Good Status’
Protecting Europe’s water resources is a priority for the European Commission. The Water Framework Directive is the European Commission’s tool for protecting and restoring clean water across Europe and ensuring its longterm sustainable use.
To ensure ‘Good Status’ member states are required to reduce pollutants in water sources, including seawater entering the source due to over-extraction, and to also ensure a balance between extraction and recharge of groundwater. The European Commission has set 2015 as a deadline for all member states to achieve these goals.
One key objective of this Directive is the obligation to ensure that water bodies are in a ‘Good Status’.
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Reliance on more expensive alternatives makes saving water important Increasing reliance on alternatives At present 55% of Malta’s public water supply is desalinated in reverse-osmosis plants. Producing this water consumes 4% of Malta’s electricity, making reverse-osmosis the largest single consumer of electricity in Malta. The deterioration of groundwater due to over-extraction and pollution, coupled with the lack of fresh water due to climate change, will increase Malta’s reliance on reverse-osmosis. However, reverse-osmosis comes at an economic and environmental cost. Alternatives to groundwater are expensive
A review of the cost of groundwater is expected
Electricity in Malta is mainly produced by burning fossil fuels which produce greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. As demand for electricity to produce more desalinated fresh water increases, so too will emissions. However, the EU has set a target of 20% reduction in emissions by 2020. This target is likely to increase as we progress into the 21st century, and the large amount of electricity required for freshwater production will be a burden on Malta.
Another key obligation of the Water Framework Directive relating to sustainable water management is that, apart from the costs for maintaining and operating the water supply network, an environmental and resource cost for all fresh water from natural sources is passed on to consumers.
Furthermore, the cost of producing desalinated water is far greater than the current cost of extracting groundwater. As more of Malta’s water is produced by reverse-osmosis desalination plants to make good for the shortfall in groundwater production, the cost of supplied water is also likely to increase.
Up until today this requirement has not been implemented in Malta for both publicly and privately extracted water, despite the European Commission’s deadline of 2010. Moreover, water consumers in Malta still do not pay a sewage tariff, which must also be factored in the real costs of water as specified in the Directive.
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The project is here to help In the near future the price of water is likely to increase due to water scarcity, a deterioration of natural freshwater, the impacts of climate change on Malta’s freshwater and a review in legislation and policy in line with EU obligations. If this happens businesses and hotels would be well served by ensuring that water is consumed as effectively and efficiently as possible. Through the project the partners are working to help these enterprises achieve this, helping to safeguard their competitiveness and the environment, while supporting national efforts to use Malta’s water resources more sustainably.
The project partnership The EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project is led by the Malta Business Bureau supported by its partners, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. Malta Business Bureau (MBB) The MBB is a non-profit organisation acting as the EU support and advisory body for its parent organisations, the Malta Chamber and the MHRA.
over €1.1 billion and employing in excess of 20,000 people.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
CO-FINANCED AND SPONSORED BY:
The project’s supporters The project receives 50% cofinancing from the LIFE funding The Malta Chamber and the MHRA programme of the European are two of the main social partners to Community, with the Office of the government. These partners represent Prime Minister as main co-financier the interest of industry on the island The Malta Chamber of and further support from Easydry and lobby to ensure that policy Commerce, Enterprise and Malta, APS Bank, Island Hotels Group Industry (Malta Chamber) decisions allow a healthy growth of and MSV Life. the respective represented industries. The Malta Chamber is a business The LIFE Funding Programme representative organisation supporting Project contact details The LIFE programme is the European the needs of over 1,000 enterprises Project Manager – Geoffrey Saliba Commission’s funding instrument ranging from retail and distribution, gsaliba@mbb.org.mt for environmental projects, aiming services and manufacturing sectors. www.investinginwater.org to contribute to the implementation, Malta Hotels and Restaurants updating and development of EU Malta Business Bureau Association (MHRA) environmental policy and legislation. Head Office, Casa Leone, Pjazza The MHRA today represents Robert Samut, Floriana, FRN1200, approximately 70% of hotels and Malta. Tel: +356 2125 1719. restaurants in Malta, collectively www.mbb.org.mt representing an investment of