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MALTATODAY 29 August 2021

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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 AUGUST 2021 8 NEWS JAMES DEBONO WATER extracted from bore- holes by bowsers supplying pri- vate households, has increased drastically from 456,044 cubic metres in 2018, to 543,271 cb.m in 2020, official statistics provid- ed to MaltaToday by the Energy and Water Agency show. This represents an increase of 19% in the period of two years. Extraction from boreholes for this purpose had already increased by 5% between 2018 and 2019. Statistics for 2017 are not fully available "as the (metering) system was still be- ing developed." The water was extracted from 164 different boreholes used by water suppliers, suggesting that on average, each borehole used by bowsers pumped an average of 3,312 cb.m in 2020. Water extracted from bore- holes is not charged, and the main expense for those ex- tracting water for commercial purposes is the energy cost of pumping water from the ground. A large portion of water de- livered by bowsers is used to fill swimming pools. Malta has 4,046 licensed swimming pools of which 1,169 (29%) are locat- ed in Gozo. A total of 663 swimming pools were approved outside development zones since 2010, of which 29% were approved in Gozo. 38% of new swimming pools approved last year were in Gozo. A spokesperson for MEW de- scribed the supply of water by bowsers as "a highly energy in- tensive process." The transfer of water by tank- er over distances of 4-5km consumes more energy than the desalination of water by re- verse osmosis. MEW advocates the impor- tance of developing alternative water resources, to ensure that water demand is provided by more environmentally friendly sources, including less ener- gy-intensive desalinated water. MEW is encouraging the use of 'new water', which is clean water produced in sewage treatment plants for agricul- ture, and the use of on-site de- salination plants in hotels. MEW is also encouraging water-efficient practices to reduce the consumption of groundwater by bowsers, such as the covering of pools to re- duce evaporation, and more water efficient irrigation tech- nologies in landscaping. Borehole water extraction by bowsers grew 19% from 2018 to 2020 2018 456,044 cb.m 2019 477,769 cb.m 2020 543,271 cb.m Bowsers extracted over 543,000 cubic metres of water, unbilled, then transported it over distances of 4-5km... 'consuming more energy than reverse osmosis desalination' Swimming pools cost the environment dearly Malta has 4,046 licenced swimming pools of which 1,169 (29%) are located in Gozo. A total of 663 swimming pools were approved outside development zones since 2010 CALL FOR QUOTATIONS PROVISION OF AUDITING SERVICES The National Literacy Agency is a public entity within the Ministry for Education established by Legal Notice 192 of 2014 under the Public Administration Act. Further information on the Agency is available on www.education.gov.mt/nla. Main responsibilities expected from appointed auditor/s: 1. Review the end of year Management Accounts; 2. Supervise and certify the financial statements for the annual audit, as per financial regulations, and per Central Government standards, in compliance with the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act (Chapter 601, Laws of Malta); 3. Present the Agency with an audited statement of accounts together with a final report on the workings of the National Literacy Agency, which shall state the manner in which the Agency has operated to fulfil its functions, by not later than f our (4) weeks after the end of each financial year. Audit to be drawn up using International Standards on Auditing (ISAs); 4. Provide assistance to the Government appointed Auditor during the audit process, if and when required; 5. Assist the Agency in finalising all relevant Income Tax forms, when applicable. The appointed auditor/s must: 1. Have the warrant as a Certified Public Auditor; 2. Be updated with all the latest IFRSs and other accounting standards, and 3. Work in liaison with Agency personnel. All related work must be carried out at the Agency's Administrative Office within office hours. Fees: Yearly fees quoted for the auditing services of the National Literacy Agency should be inclusive of VAT, if applicable. Quote should include fees for 3 consecutive years, commencing with the financial Audit of year-end 2021. Submissions: Interested firms/individuals must submit their interest by not later than noon of 13th September, 2021 to Mr John Farrugia at john.b.farrugia@gov.mt or by post to Mr. John Farrugia, Executive Secretary, National Curriculum Centre, Joseph Abela Scolaro Street, Ħamrun HMR 1304. Submissions by post should be sent by registered mail, allowing sufficient time to ensure delivery by the above deadline. All submissions will be acknowledged in writing within seven days. Further information may be obtained from Mr John Farrugia via email at john.b.farrugia@gov.mt or on 2598 2997.

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