Sliema Ferries stinks, and residents fear it's raw sewage

Updated 1.50pm with WSC reply

A foul stench believed to be coming from raw sewage has alarmed Sliema residents, who say the problem has persisted just weeks after a similar incident in the same area.

Photos and videos taken on Saturday morning and sent to Times of Malta captured a murky, brown-coloured discharge spreading from the coastline near the Sliema Ferries area.

This was spotted in the same area where a sewage overflow was reported just two weeks ago. At the time, the Water Services Corporation (WSC) said the overflow was caused by construction waste that had obstructed the sewer line.

Since then, residents who spoke to Times of Malta said they have continued to endure the smell of sewage.

Sliema resident Anna Maria Baldacchino said residents have been dealing with sewage problems for over a year, but that the situation has worsened in recent weeks.

“The smell is so bad that it can even be smelled from my apartment’s terrace, which is several floors up,” Baldacchino said.

'The area stinks'

Baldacchino also posted a photo of the murky discharge last week on the Facebook group Għaqda Residenti Slimiżi.

Suspected sewage leak on April 8. Photo: Anna Maria Baldacchino

“The area stinks, and the bay is full of what looks like raw sewage, which seems to be getting worse. I’m surprised no action has been taken, especially given that this is a tourist area,” another resident said.

Following the sewage leak two weeks ago, WSC said it could not rule out another leak, as further cleaning of the affected section of pipe was required. This work involves fully draining the pipe.

WSC urged the public to dispose of only appropriate waste in the sewer network.

“Discharging construction materials, debris, grease, wipes, or any other foreign matter into the sewer network is illegal and dangerous. Such actions affect the entire community, increasing the risk of sewage backflow, flooding, and prolonged service disruptions.”

Numerous construction projects are currently underway along the coastline.

WSC links problem to pipe-cleaning

In response to questions, the Water Services Corporation said the spillage is linked to ongoing pipe-cleaning operations. This operation could lead to the discharge of a mixture of construction waste and wastewater into the sea, a spokesperson said.

The cleaning operation is expected to be completed by Tuesday evening.

Questions regarding enforcement action against the construction operation responsible for the sewage blockage were sent to the Building and Construction Authority.

Sliema is Malta's most densely populated town and a tourism hotspot. The area, which is subject to intense construction, has also fallen victim to multiple sewage spills in recent years. 

A sewage spill was reported along the Strand in November 2024, which was caused after the area’s sewage system suffered damage. And last summer, a swimming ban was imposed at Fond Għadir and  Qui-si-sana due to a sewage leak.

Malta is currently facing EU scrutiny over its handling of sewage, with an EU court ruling in 2024 that the country was breaching EU water safety laws by discharging untreated sewage into the sea. 

A European Parliament committee was told last month that updated water quality readings suggest the problem persists to this day.