The development of the water supply system in Malta with special reference to the years 1959 to 1970

Abstract

A country's prosperity and progress, one may even say its very existence, depends first and foremost upon an adequate supply of good drinking water. The settlement of different kinds of races in certain areas or districts of the earth's surface has been determined by the water supply of these particular areas, and when, for any reason or other water becomes scarce in these localities, migration on a large scale is inevitable. This is true for all forms of economic activity, industrial as well as agricultural, and the most important events in history regarding migration was mostly due to climatic conditions involving a scarcity of water in those districts. No wonder, therefore, every country has its water problems, which are bound to be more complex as sanitary requirements become more urgent and industrial activities more exacting. Even in water-rich countries where the available material resources exceed the demand, inventories are being taken of the water available in order that, through early and careful planning, the future water demand which is constantly increasing may confidently be met. It is all the more compelling, therefore, that countries, like the Maltese Islands, not so fortunate in natural resources, should take stock of the situation and hasten their planning on other sources of supply to meet the future.