Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1510125
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 OCTOBER 2023 NEWS regulatory framework for the construction of rainwater har- vesting cisterns in new devel- opments. This measure is among sever- al others being contemplated in the new plan, which has been issued for public consultation. The report is a requirement of the European Floods Directive, which obliges Member States to create a Flood Risk Manage- ment Plan, identifying areas facing significant flood risk. Why flooding occurs in Malta The factors contributing to flooding, according to the doc- ument, include sprawling ur- banization and deficiencies in stormwater infrastructure in valleys. Unlike mainland Europe, where the major cause of flooding is overflowing rivers, Malta's main problem is the lo- cation of most urban develop- ment in low-lying areas. These low-lying areas often consist of dry valleys, which have been integrated into the urban fabric over time and now serve as main thoroughfares. When a storm event occurs, these paved dry valley beds act as conveyance channels for stormwater, which flows for only a short time before reach- ing the sea. More wells, less floods The plan also addresses the flow of water from rooftops to roads. According to the latest Census, the percentage of dwellings with wells has decreased significantly, from 35.9% in 2011 to just 25.6% in 2022. This suggests that many dwellings approved since 2011 lack wells. Prior to 2012, a law dating back to 1818 required all build- ings to have a cistern in good condition, but this law was widely ignored despite flooding and water scarcity issues. Regulations on the minimum energy performance of build- ings require new buildings to incorporate in their design a reservoir of adequate size for the storage and re-use of rain- water runoff. In the case of apartment blocks, the well has to be used by at least one of the flats. The new measure being con- templated seeks to strengthen these regulations by establish- ing an administrative frame- work for their effective imple- mentation, with the Buildings and Construction Authority (BCA) responsible for this task. The plan also envisions a sup- port scheme for the restoration of rainwater harvesting facili- ties in existing houses, which is expected to save an additional 42,000 cubic meters of water. This measure will result in the reinstatement of damaged or unused wells to provide house- holds with a second-class water system. The most cost-effective meas- ure, according to the plan, will be the addition of 7,300 square meters of green areas in urban environments, including the planting of 1,800 trees. While the volume saved from being lost to the sea is not quantified, the implementation of a Valley Management Mas- ter Plan is considered the most effective measure. flooding risk, study shows A severe storm in 2010 sent coffins in a carpenter's workshop in Qormi floating down the flooded valley