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The objective of this action is to characterise past, present and future national water demand by the most important water use sectors in the Maltese islands which are the touristic, domestic, agriculture and industrial/commercial sectors.
A research and surveying exercise on the availability of water demand management technologies (including devices and appliances) in both local and foreign market, for use by the main water using sectors in the Maltese islands was conducted.
The main objective was a report outlining the market infiltration rates of water efficient technologies in the Maltese islands and outlining potential alternative technologies which might be considered/supported to enhance their future infiltration in the market.
The aim of this action was to establish a technical committee with representatives of all project partners who undertook an exploratory exercise to identify research initiatives through both EU and non-EU funded initiatives, on issues of relevance to the concrete actions being coordinated by each respective project partner.
The aim of the action was to conduct a perception survey among the Maltese population. This included the undertaking of focus group discussions among water consumers to elicit participant discussion and gather perceptions and attitudes of a mapping exercise of the main stakeholder and water users in the Malta River Basin District. Another objective was to identify stakeholder concerns and potential stakeholder conflicts which would need to be addressed during the implementation of the LIFE IP and the 2nd RBMP.
The main aim of this action was to carry out a chemical profiling assessment of industrial wastewater discharges in Malta, to obtain a clear picture of the types and main constituents of liquid waste waters being generated by local industry. This exercise helps to assess adequacy of treatment systems currently in use by industry and suggest locations for construction of future industrial STPs.
The action involves the development of a monitoring strategy at a national river basin district scale for contaminants of emerging concern in four water categories, namely surface waters (coastal and inland surface waters), rainwater runoff, groundwater, and new water (highly polished water resulting from urban wastewater treatment).
The scope is to identify a list of contaminants of emerging concern per water category that are relevant to the local context and develop a monitoring strategy and programme for each water category.
This preparatory action is intended to design and propose an implementation plan for the setting up of an observing and numerical modelling framework for the Maltese Islands. The proposed systems are intended to be applied to Malta’s marine waters with a view to determine baseline hydrographical conditions for Maltese waters, serving to address the assessment processes and objectives for good environmental status of coastal and marine waters.
The scope of this action is to develop a long-term vision for the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of Malta’s valleys. Moreover, plans and guidelines for the management and maintenance of catchments, sub-catchments and valley stretches based on the notion of River Basin Management Planning are being formulated. The project will also identify, assess and categorise ecosystem services provided by each catchment. The key results of this action will be presented in the masterplans, and within a coffee-table book aimed at the public.
The aim of this action was the development of 3D-Numerical Groundwater models of Malta Mean-sea-level aquifer, Gozo mean sea-level aquifer and Pwales coastal aquifer systems
Furthermore, the action focuses on the training of personnel in the development, calibration and use of the developed numerical models.
The action is intended to increase awareness in households about the lower water consumption rates which can be achieved through increased conservation and efficiency in water use. Also, the action intends to link water consumption with energy consumption in view of making households more aware that water consumption carries an energy footprint. This means that increased water conservation will optimise household energy consumption and reduce its carbon footprint. The households visits under this Action will start in January 2021.
The aim of this action is to develop a voluntary water labelling strategy aimed at promoting water efficient devices and appliances so as to empower consumers with verifiable information. This is also aligned with the measures in Malta’s 2nd River Basin Management Plan which also provides for the awareness and education on water conservation, in particular targeting the issue of water scarcity and other challenges.
- Deliverable 2A.1: Analysis and Identification of Eco-labels at European and International Level
- Deliverable 2A.1: Analysis of European Directives, Regulations and Guidance/Technical Documents on Eco-labels
- Deliverable 2B: Development of a Preliminary Methodology of the Water Eco-label Scheme at local level
- Deliverable 3A: Identification of relevant stakeholders and suppliers in Malta affected by the development of the water eco-label.
This action intends to develop and implement a water educational programme targeted specifically, but not exclusive to the younger generations of the Maltese islands, school children and in the corporate world. The objective of the programme, named shall be to raise awareness on the scarcity of natural water resources in the Maltese islands and also promote water conservation to the younger generations and the general public.
The implementation of demonstration actions on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) – DEMOSuDS is seen as an opportunity to apply a cost-effective, state-of-the-art technique for sustainable urban drainage and rural drainage measures and risk reduction and resilience in Malta.
The objective of this action is the design and deployment of three examples of SuDS, following a wider appraisal in order to assess their suitability to be introduced into the Maltese landscape, thereby setting the needed long-term planning and design guidance for the implementation of SuDS to be replicated according to different contexts and within a wider and more ambitious effort to promote green infrastructure and natural water retaining systems.
The main scope of this action will be the building-up of the technical capacity of the Discharge Permit Unit (DPU) and the Laboratory in its supporting function within the Water Services Corporation, in terms of personnel, equipment, procedures and more in depth knowledge about the challenges faced by the sewer network. This will allow the DPU to direct its efforts towards those areas which are contributing to lowering of the quality of the sewage.
This action will seek the restoration of an important costal wetland Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk. This measure will address the assessment and restoration of the hydro morphological elements pertaining to the coastal wetland, through water quality analysis, the study of current hydrological regimes and associated coastal erosion processes, thereby enabling the identification of the possible interventions and alternative solutions targeting the restoration of coastal wetlands.
Anchoring and mooring activity is generally associated with pressures on seabed habitats through physical damage. While the impacts of such activity are widely known, this pressure has not been quantified on a national scale. This action will address this knowledge gap by surveying and mapping the marine waters which are subject to mooring/anchoring activity. Further, within selected areas, the habitat types that are likely to be affected through such activity will be identified and assessed for resulting impacts.
Subsequently, the identified impacts shall be addressed through the identification of management options as applicable to different scenarios. These options will be subject to a prioritisation exercise, based on technical feasibility, the sensitivity of affected habitats and the outcomes of a socio-economic assessment. Selected priority options will then be implemented on a pilot basis and monitored in terms of both ecological objectives and user demands, with a view to inform management processes in the longer-term.
The objective of this action is to investigate and determine the impact of brine discharge from Reverse Osmosis plants to the marine environment. These plants are located on different parts of the Maltese coastline and the reject water of this process (brine) is being discharged into the coastal water surrounding the islands. The sampling programme shall cover a period of two years to ensure that the sampling program captures any seasonal variations in the quantity of brine being discharged into the marine environment and due consideration is given to the changing hydrodynamic conditions and their effect on brine and seawater mixing.
This action has established a multi-stakeholder water table involving both stakeholders from the public and private sectors (including entities, water user associations and e-NGOs) who meet regularly to assess the progress achieved in the implementation of the LIFE IP and the 2nd RBMP, look towards the development of the 3rd RBMP and discuss potential ways in which this implementation process can be optimised. This action ensures the establishment of a continuous process through which stakeholders are continuously involved and consulted in the implementation process of the Water Framework Directive.
The purpose of Action D.2 is to carry out a comprehensive socio-economic assessment of the LIFE Integrated Project and the expected positive contribution that the implementation of the actions listed therein will have on the economy at a local, regional and national level. The Actions proposed under the LIFE Integrated Project are expected to generate improvements in water resource efficiency, climate change resilience mainly through adaptation measures and job creation opportunities in a number of economic sectors. The outcome of the LIFE Integrated Project shall contribute towards introducing new approaches and innovative demonstrative elements which can, directly or through the multiplier effect, have a number of positive impacts on the socio-economic development at the River Basin scale. The foreseen impacts are expected to occur immediately after the completion of the individual actions and will continue to positively contribute to the economy following the completion of the project.
In line with the current work that is being undertaken as part of Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 for the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES), the LIFE Project Management Team has identified the preliminary list of ecosystem services which are relevant to the implementation of LIFE IP actions, using the CICES classification. Changes in this preliminary list may be necessary following further discussions on the matter at EU level and at national level vis-a-vis Malta’s national assessment.