Rainwater Harvesting Reservoir In The Three Cities Reaches New Phase of Restoration
The preservation and conservation of water is an important element on our journey to increased sustainability, and is a way of showing respect not only to our planet, but to future generations.
The 2023 ALTERAQUA program is a collaborative effort undertaken with the Kottonera Foundation and the local councils of the Three Cities.
The project aims to restore historic underground reservoirs in the Three Cities that date back to the 17th century. The reservoirs are selected based on several factors, including their use, size, accessibility, and cultural and historical value.
This initiative has been funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation since 2011, and has achieved a number of milestones through three previous phases with grants totalling USD 1.4 million.
The fourth phase was launched successfully at an event earlier this month. It brought together several initiatives and ongoing projects promoting the use of Non-Conventional Water Resources (NCWR) across the Mediterranean, exploring their potential contribution to Malta’s water security.
The event was held at Esplora and addressed by the Minister for Environment, Miriam Dalli. Several other prominent speakers from Alter Aqua’s partners also took the stage, including Maria Micallef, CEO of GSD Marketing Ltd, Sofia Kilifi, Sustainability and Community Manager at The Coca-Cola Company. Representatives from Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean, Manuel Sapiano, CEO of the Energy and Water Agency, and Glenn Bedingfield, Chairman of the Kottonera Foundation were also present.
The launch event attracted participants from the public and private sectors, academia and NGOs. Throughout the day, a range of thought-provoking presentations and panel discussions were organised, providing a platform for stakeholders to express their views on the significance of rainwater harvesting and other NCWR applications which “‘are an absolute necessity for Malta, given the relative lack of naturally occurring freshwater resources” as stated by Mr. Sapiano.
This year, the Alter Aqua program will also delve into the social aspect of water and will host a workshop for young students to help them learn about our water culture history and the importance of water conservation.
Additionally, the program will include a captivating “reservoir trail” in the Kottonera region, complete with conveniently placed QR codes.
The primary objective of this trail is to provide visitors with a more interactive and engaging experience, allowing them to explore the invisible underground structure beneath their feet. The reservoir trail is being developed in collaboration with the University of Malta, and with the support of NGO Il-Ġibjun.
Over the years, the Alter Aqua program has benefited over 74,400 individuals in Malta, conserving more than 19 million litres of water annually, which is equivalent to the monthly water consumption of over 1,000 families in Malta.
The Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean leads the design and implementation of the Alter Aqua program in partnership with the Energy and Water Agency and the Coca-Cola system in Malta (GSD Marketing Ltd. and The Coca-Cola Company). This philanthropic public-private partnership has been funded consistently for 12 years by The Coca-Cola Foundation, with contributions also by the Energy and Water Agency.
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