Popular Ta’ Xbiex swimming spot reopens after foul water discharge

Updated 4.48pm

A popular swimming spot in Ta' Xbiex has reopened after the Environmental Health Directorate warned people to avoid it because of an "overflow of foul water". 

A sign set up on the rocks at the swimming spot under ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex, facing Valletta, earlier read that bathing was “not recommended” due to “extraordinary circumstances”.  

No further information was available at the beach or on the directorate’s website or Facebook page at the time.

Responding to questions by Times of Malta, the Environmental Health Directorate said the area was closed "due to an overflow of foul water coming from the stormwater flood relief system which was ending up in the sea". 

Not everyone was deterred by the sign. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.

The spokesperson added the issue was "investigated, addressed, and the nuisance ceased to exist". 

"The responsible entity was informed to investigate the cause of this problem. A temporary solution to pump out the accumulated foul water from the stormwater flood relief system is preventing the overflow," he added.

The bathing area was reopened on Thursday morning, and the warning signs removed after results from the area over the past three days came out "good". 

The area marked in the map was closed for swimming while environmental health authorities investigated the cause of a foul water overflow. Image: Environmental Health Directorate

However, the spokesperson pointed out that investigations were still ongoing to find a permanent solution to the problem by the responsible entity of the flood relief system.

He also pointed out that the site, though popular with many swimmers, is not an official bathing area as it is within a port.

"It is important to note that the area in question is within a harbour and bathing is to be avoided in such areas," the spokesperson said.

Not everyone seemed deterred by the sign when Times of Malta visited the site earlier Thursday, with some bathers spotted in the water as others sunbathed on the rocks nearby.

The warning came days after the directorate urged people not to swim in the area off Dawret il-Qalb Imqaddsa, Birżebbuġa, because of a sewage outflow traced to private residences in a nearby street.