Different authorities and entities as well as Non Government Organisations as well as the public in general have an important role in the implementation of the WFD. The Directive itself states "the success of the WFD relies on close co-operation and coherent action at Community, Member State and local level as well as on information, consultation and involvement of the public users".

The views and concerns of NGOs, interest groups and individuals are especially welcome and those interested in making comments or observations are invited to forward their written submissions on all matters of relevance to the project.


Consultation on the Draft Water Catchment Management Plan

The draft Water Catchment Management Plan for Malta covers the whole of Malta and Gozo as one unit of water management. The plan is a direct requirement of the Water Framework Directive and is based on a management period of 6 years. The plan is holistic in that it addresses all waters including protected inland surface waters such as water courses, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwaters found in the Maltese Islands. The principal goal of the plan is to achieve “good status” in all surface waters and groundwaters by 2015.

The Plan describes the natural characteristics of our water resources, the different uses of water, the threats to our waters and the impacts on the quality and quantity of our water environment.  The state of health of our waters is identified in the plan together with management actions required to maintain or improve the status of these waters. The plan addresses the factors harming our water ecosystems. Pollution is one, so are morphological changes such as dredging and coastal engineering works. The over abstraction of groundwater is another factor which has a long-term negative effect on the availability of the resource.

The management measures defined in the plan will be implemented over the next three years and are targeted to provide a significant improvement in surface and groundwater status by 2015. During this period the implementation of the measures and their effectiveness in improving the water status will be monitored by means of a monitoring programme. On this basis, the Plan will be revised and the Water Framework Directive cycle re-launched in the next six years.

Download plan here

A set of documents have been created to accompany the draft Water Catchment Management Plan. These documents give more detail on the characteristics of the coastal water bodies of the water catchment district, and on the measures proposed and the mechanisms required to implement these measures. An additional document describes how climate change considerations were integrated in the Water Catchment Management Plan.

List of Technical Documents

Technical Document 2: Programme of Measures                  Download
Technical Documen 3: Climate Check                                 Download

You can send your queries or recommendations to:

Consultation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Draft Water Catchment Management Plan
 

With the adoption of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive (2001/42/EC) Member States within the EU are obliged to undertake an environmental assessment of certain plans and programmes, during the preparation stage and before their adoption.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority, in collaboration with the Malta Resources Authority, has prepared the Environmental Report as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Water Catchment Management Plan (WCMP) for the Maltese Islands.

The Environmental Report describes and evaluates the likely significant effects on the environment of the implementation of the WCMP and reasonable alternatives in line with the SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) as transposed into national legislation by the Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations 2005 (L.N. 418 of 2005 as amended by L.N. 327 of 2008).

This report is being issued for public consultation in terms of Regulations 19 and 20 of LN 418/2005. The draft environmental report was first issued for consultation with stakeholders and the public between 10/11/2010 and15/12/2010; the revised report takes into consideration feedback received internally as well as from external consultees and the public.

You are invited to submit your comments on the Environmental Report (1st Revision) by 7th January 2011.

Any comments and feedback should be addressed to Ms Karina Fiorini either by email on: karina.fiorini@gov.mt or at the following address:

Tourism and Sustainable Development Unit
Office of the Prime Minister
Auberge d'Italie
Merchant's Street
Valletta VLT 1170

WCMP_Environment Report_1st Rev                        click here 

WCMP_Environmental Report Appendices            click here

Outcome Consultation_ER                                  click here

Any comments and feedback should be addressed to Ms Karina Fiorini either by email on: karina.fiorini@gov.mt or at the following address:

Tourism and Sustainable Development Unit
Office of the Prime Minister
Auberge d'Italie
Merchant's Street
Valletta VLT 1170