Global Public Health

Course

PUBH-100

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2017

Disciplines

Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Environmental Public Health | Epidemiology | Fresh Water Studies | Natural Resource Economics | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Public Health | Sustainability | Water Resource Management

Description, Abstract, or Artist's Statement

The aim of this paper is to discuss Malta’s struggle with limited natural freshwater resources. Malta currently uses aquifers to obtain natural freshwater. For over a decade, aquifers have been under pressure from over-abstraction. Due to this issue, Malta has not been able to obtain enough natural freshwater for agriculture and basic living. The biggest risk due to over-abstraction is retrieving a smaller volume of freshwater. In Malta’s attempted interventions, the biggest issue is the Maltese government’s misconceptions. The Maltese government believes the country has unlimited natural freshwater resources. Due to this misconception, nothing is being done to actively fix the issue. Two concepts are very important when considering water management planning: flexibility and adaptation. As a possible intervention to the issue, Malta has been extracting natural freshwater from surrounding countries. This intervention in turn is affecting the neighboring countries.

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