Water in Malta

Malta's tap water comes from the sea, purified through a reverse osmosis desalination process. It goes through multiple desalination and sanitisation stages and is classified as safe for human consumption, meeting EU standards.

That said, many residents prefer to drink bottled water for taste reasons — tap water is perfectly safe but can have a slightly mineral aftertaste due to the desalination process.

Electricity in Malta

Electricity is produced locally using a mix of renewable and non-renewable sources, supplemented by an interconnector between Malta and Sicily that ensures additional supply and grid reliability.

Domestic vs Residential rate — which applies to you?

In Malta there are two billing rates managed by ARMS (the entity that handles utility bills on the island). Understanding which one applies to your situation is important, as it directly affects how much you pay.

Rate Who it applies to Cost level
Domestic Short-lets, holiday apartments, non-registered tenants Higher
Residential Long-term tenants registered as residents via Form H Lower

If you are renting long-term, you want to be on the residential rate — it is cheaper and is the one that applies when tenants register as residents. To switch to this rate, you and your landlord need to complete Form H, provided by ARMS.

Important

Bills in Malta are not always issued monthly — they can arrive every two or three months by post. Don't be caught off guard by a larger-than-expected bill covering multiple months.

Form H — how to register

Form H is the document that allows you to switch from the domestic to the residential billing rate. It needs to be completed together with your landlord and submitted to ARMS. You can download a sample below.

Download Form H — ARMS Residential Registration

Estimate your bills with the ARMS calculator

ARMS provides an online bill calculator that lets you estimate your consumption costs in real time. Simply enter the meter readings taken at the start of your tenancy and your current readings — the tool will calculate an accurate estimate based on your rate, the number of people in the household, and the period covered.

This is particularly useful for budgeting, given that bills don't arrive every month.

External tool
ARMS Bill Calculator — arms.com.mt