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The
Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), transposed into Maltese
legislation as Legal Notice 194 of 2004 (Water Policy Framework
Regulations, 2004) provides for the long-term sustainable
management of water resources on the basis of a high level of
protection of the aquatic environment.
These
Regulations define the Malta Resources Authority as the Competent
Authority in Malta in so far as ‘inland waters’ are concerned; with the
exception of inland surface waters protected under the Development
Planning Act or the Environment Protection Act . Such inland
surface waters are placed under the
competency of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. This
web-interface will thereby focus on the groundwater bodies within
the Maltese River Basin District.
The
overall objective of this legislation is to harmonise water
environmental policy and regulation across Europe. As
regards groundwater, the main aims of the legislation can be
outlined as follows:
Prevention of deterioration in the status of groundwater bodies;
Protection, enhancement and restoration of all groundwater bodies;
Achievement of good groundwater qualitative and quantitative
status by 2015;
Prevention of and limiting the input of pollutants in
groundwater;
Reversing any significant, upward trend of pollutants in
groundwater;
Achievement of standards and objectives set for protected areas
in other National and Community Legislation.
Regulation 5
of these regulations require that an analysis of the
characteristics of the Maltese Water Catchment District is carried
out. This analysis should be
accompanied by a review of the impact of human activity on the
status of groundwater as well as an economic analysis of
water use within the Water Catchment District.
The
Malta Resources Authority
is currently carrying out the characterisation of the groundwater
bodies in the Maltese Water Catchment District and is presenting the results
of the work undertaken so far on this
web-interface. Further updates and developments of the work
carried out will also be
published for public consultation over the coming weeks.
Comments may be submitted at the following address:
Malta
Resources Authority
Millennia
Aldo
Moro Road
Marsa
LQA06
Malta
or
by email at:
enquiry@mra.org.mt
All
comments should be marked: "Comments on the Implementation
of the EU Water Framework Directive". Any material
or
information that may be confidential in nature should be attached
in a separate Annex and clearly marked so that it can be kept
confidential.
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