Groundwater (Prohibition of Discharge to Groundwater Bodies) Regulations

 

CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 26 April 2021

Closing date: 24 May 2021

Title of the public consultation: Groundwater (Prohibition of Discharge to Groundwater Bodies) Regulations

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning

Entity: Environment & Resources Authority

 

  1. Background

Groundwater is the most important source of freshwater in Malta, contributing significantly to the national water demand. In a scenario where water resources are very scarce due to the semi-arid climatic conditions of the islands, the need to safeguard the quality of freshwater sustained in limestone aquifers gains significant importance. Within this context, the quality of Malta’s groundwater needs to be safeguarded by preventing pollution from human activities.

For this purpose, regulations are being proposed to prohibit further direct discharges to groundwater bodies and strengthen regulation of indirect discharges.

The scope of these regulations is to strengthen existing regulations addressing water policy by protecting further groundwater bodies in line with the obligations of the Water Policy Framework Regulations (S.L. 549.100), the EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) and related legislation.

 

  1. Consultation

In line with Article 55 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549) the public is invited to make submissions to ERA with their comments as to why and how these regulations could be amended.

 

  1. Documents

Groundwater (Prohibition of Discharge to Groundwater Bodies) Regulations, 2021

Regolamenti tal-2021 dwar l-Ilma ta’ Taħt l-Art (Projbizzjoni ta’ Skargar għal ġo Korpi tal-Ilma ta’ taħt l-Art)

Public Submissions and Responses

 

  1. Submission of feedback

Comments will be received by email on [email protected].

 

  1. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.