MAL059 - Il-Qbiela

Description

Il-Qbiela is a large and elevated, artificially constructed reservoir, intended for irrigation and water storage, located in western Malta within Dingli. The reservoir was constructed in the 1980s out of cement and limestone, is 8.5 metres high and covers an approximate area of 1,040m2. The site is not accessible to the public as it can only be accessed through privately-owned agricultural land. The reservoir is predominantly surrounded by agricultural land with numerous pipelines scattered throughout adjacent fields, indicating that it is likely being used for irrigation. Within the basin of the reservoir, Ceratonia siliqua and Ficus carica are present. The site is not protected by any legislation.

Wetland data

Basic information
Wetland location: Inland
Wetland type: Artificial
Wetland area: 0.10 Ha
Hydrological interaction: -  
Water salinity: Fresh (< 0.5 g/l)
Type of fresh water input: Catchment area (precipitation)
Surface water runoff Outflow controlled by pipeline
Open water area (%): > 95
Hydroperiod: Permanent
Geographic information
Census district: Western
Island: Malta
Local council: Had-Dingli
Longitude: 14.382510 East
Latitude: 35.863260 North
Biological significance
Biological significance: Low
Ramsar wetland type
Type Coverage (%)
6 -- Water storage areas; reservoirs/barrages/dams/impoundments (generally over 8 ha)
Property status
Private
Ecosystem services
Type of ecosystem service Ecosystem service Scale of Βenefit (%) Importance
Provisioning services Food
Provisioning services Fresh water
Activities on wetland
Activity Intensity
020 = Resource conservation High
110 = Use of pesticides High
120 = Fertilisation High
130 = Irrigation High
701 = water pollution High
Activities on catchment area
Activity Intensity
100 = Cultivation Medium
110 = Use of pesticides High
120 = Fertilisation High
130 = Irrigation High
401 = continuous urbanisation Low
430 = Agricultural structures High
502 = roads motorways Low
701 = water pollution High
Impacts
Impact Intensity
EE- = Increase of economic potential High
ES- = Increase in water supply High
PF- = Fertilizer/Excess nutrient pollution High
PP- = Pesticide pollution High
Vegetation types
Type Coverage (%)
Shrubby / Arborescent 5 - 25

Images