Water Activists Demand Ban On University Tradition
The annual university water fight between law and architecture students has come under fire by a group of water activists, who have written to the rector to end the tradition.
The Malta Water Association warned the water fight – which involves students dousing each other with water from a bowser – gives off the completely wrong impression that the island has abundant supplies of water.
“We have officially written to the rector, asking the university to refrain from issuing permits for this and similar activity in future, in view of the fact that it gives the false impression, within university and beyond, that the country has water to waste,” water activist Marco Cremona said.
After today’s fight, the law students’ association ELSA and architects’ students association SACES attempted to put to bed concerns they wasted precious water.
“Firstly the water used by both parties was non-potable water, secondly water in Vjal Tessie (the venue where the event took place) is channeled via gutters to Msida Valley, and finally, the venue is surrounded by vegetation,” the students said.
However, Cremona was having none of it – warning the students that Malta ranks among the ten countries in the world having the least amount of water per capita, and that the bowser water they had used was probably groundwater pumped from an illegally-drilled borehole.
“The aquifers are under threat and need rehabilitation,” he said. “And you, as Malta’s future architects and civil engineers have a role to play in that process of rehabilitation. Now that you know the facts, I expect you to live up to your responsibilities as Malta’s future professionals and set the example.”
Waste of water or just harmless fun? Tell us what you think in the comments’ section
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