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 |