1. Safeguarding Malta’s Groundwater
EUROSAI Seminar –Ljubljana
April 2017
N A O
National Audit Office
MALTA

2. Discussion outline Background Audit conclusions Auditing challenges
Audit objectives
Current Status of Malta’s Groundwater
Climate Change threats to Malta’s Groundwater
Audit conclusions
Auditing challenges
Topic complexity
Broad legal and regulatory framework
Role fragmentation
Development of auditing criteria
Draft policies
Audit Outcome

3. Audit objectives
The main aim of this audit was to determine the extent to which Malta is being effective in safeguarding groundwater against current and climate change threats.
This included ascertaining the degree to which Government:
identified prevailing and climate change threats and their impacts;
developed the relevant framework to address the current status of groundwater; and
implemented measures to safeguard groundwater in an effective and expedient manner.

4. Current status of Malta’s Groundwater (I)

5. Current status of Malta’s Groundwater (II)
There is a heavy dependence on groundwater that is nowadays subject to intense pressures by different sectors of the community
Agriculture - demand doubled over the last 50 years;
Domestic - an increase in consumption due to higher standards of living;
Commercial and industrial - Industrial and commercial establishments account for 8% of the total demand;
Tourism – estimated to consume around 5 per cent of overall demand.

6. Current status of Malta’s Groundwater (III)

7. Current status of Malta’s Groundwater (IV)
Over abstraction and high contamination renders Malta’s groundwater as ‘at risk’
widespread unauthorised abstraction
decrease in precipitation which will limit recharging of aquifer systems
Some 50 percent of water recharged into the aquifer systems is lost naturally through subsurface discharge to the sea
Increased salinity due to sea water intrusion
Nitrate contamination of most of aquifer system due to intensive livestock production, fertiliser use and leakages in the sewage collection system
FAO estimates that the total substitution of groundwater with desalinated water will double the retail cost of water for consumers

8. Climate Change Threats to Malta’s Groundwater
Climate change also poses threats to groundwater
Rise in annual average temperature
Change in annual mean precipitation
A higher incidence of drought periods
Increase in sea level rise

9. Audit conclusions
The ‘at risk’ groundwater status is mainly attributed to:
Policy and regulation gaps
Limited enforcement
Data fragmentation and gaps
Absence of fiscal measures to control abstraction
Administrative capacity issues
Implementation of key measures still outstanding
Significant progress has nonetheless been registered on the regulatory framework

10. Auditing challenges (I)
Topic complexity
Ground water and climate change are two separate but interrelated topics
Many variables are at play – audit scoping was a major difficulty
Voluminous and complex legal and regulatory framework
International obligations – Water Framework Directive, Nitrates Directive, Second communication to the NFCC
National Legislation – Water Policy Framework Regulations (2004), Protection of Waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (2003)
National Strategies, Water Policy, Water Catchment Management Plan, National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
Fragmentation of responsibilities
At least seven entities have critical responsibilities
Overlapping roles

11. Regulatory framework Responsible entities
International obligations
National legislative framework
National policy, strategy and plans
MEPA
MRA
Other Departments within MRRA
CCA
NAU
Government entities
IMC
Water Framework Directive
Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004
Water Policy X
WCMP
Nitrates Directive
Protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agriculture sources, 2003
NAP
Second Communication to UNFCC
NCCAS

12. Auditing challenges (II)
Risk and vulnerability studies
Developing effectiveness criteria of reports
Determining any limitations of these assessments in terms of data gaps and reliability of data
Independent expertise to support the NAO
Climate Change Adaptation Strategy was still in draft form
Responsibilities and targets outlined in this document were not yet approved
Entities not working in synchronisation

13. Audit outcome
Water policy and Climate Change Adaptation policies approved
Increased public awareness
Generated NGO interest
Implementation of key measures

14. Email : william.peplow@gov.mt
Thank you
Website : nao.gov.mt