Minister invites opposition to hold independent water quality tests

Public Investments Minister Austin Gatt yesterday rebutted opposition claims that tap water was not safe, saying the government was prepared to pay for any tests conducted by an expert chosen by Labour MP Joe Mizzi, who made the claims on Tuesday.

Dr Gatt was speaking at the end of the two-day debate on the estimates of the Water Services Corporation.

Replying to various points raised by the opposition, Dr Gatt said he agreed with remarks by Labour MP Charles Buhagiar on illegal use of groundwater and said action should be taken to curb such abuses.

Reacting to other opposition remarks, Dr Gatt insisted that water bills should be settled promptly as otherwise the burden would fall on the people in general.

As for the eight per cent interest on outstanding bills, this had been imposed at beginning of the 1980s when Labour was in government. The present government was only applying an existing law.

He understood the difficult situation of social cases who could not keep up with their bills. These people numbered over 13,000. They already did not pay a fee for their meters and the consumption bill was heavily subsidised so much so that they only amounted to a maximum of Lm25 per year.

He could not understand how such a little could not be paid.

It was not true, he said, that the reconnection fee for water services had increased, the fee was according to existing regulations.

Referring to Noel Farrugia's opposition to the use of second class water for irrigation, Dr Gatt said experts everywhere said such water was good for irrigation. Certainly such water could not be thrown away once it was treated.

Referring to other comments by Joe Mizzi (MLP) Dr Gatt said water demand had gone down because of leakage detection. Water losses had been reduced by at least 200 per cent but more reductions were needed.

The minister said that it was good management that when there were clashes between ministers and chairmen of government companies, it was the chairmen who should go, since they were appointed to their position whereas ministers were elected by the people. These were difficult decisions but they had to be faced.

As for criticism that the WSC's accounts were not presented in a professional way, Dr Gatt said the accounts had been certified by Ernst and Young, a respected international auditing firm, and he had every confidence in them.

Dr Gatt said that the call for tenders for one of the sewage treatment plans had been issued through the Italian embassy under Italian regulations since funds from the Italian protocol were to be used.

Dr Gatt said it was true there was a problem regarding the sewage treatment plant at Wied Ghammieq. This project had fallen behind due to the fact that the required Lm25 million for it had not yet been sourced.

The sewage treatment plants, he said, had to be located close to the sea because of the consequences of sewage outflows should there be a failure. Having several plants instead of a few larger ones would have meant higher running costs.

Dr Gatt said the corporation was an example of how the government and corporations should act. Over a number of years the government's subvention had dropped by 50 per cent while water tariffs were kept unchanged, except under the Labour government.

Earlier in the debate, Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett praised the WSC for raising its turnover and efficiency while reducing its operational costs even as the worforce was whittled down.

There had also been an improvement in customer care even during weekends.

Mr Mugliett said demand for water had not dropped because the people had less confidence in water quality, but because the corporation was increasingly successful in leakage detection. Consumers were also using water more wisely.

The minister said the planning of road works had also been improved, with provision being made for utility services as new roads were planned so that surfaces would not have to be dug up again.

Nationalist MP David Agius said that the Water Services Corporation had improved both its services and financial situation.

The corporation, he said, had introduced the concepts of multiskilling and flexibility.

It was obtaining good results in leakage control but better results had to be achieved.

Mr Agius observed that some 800 residences were still linked to cesspits. He augured that the sewage system would continue to be extended so that the use of cesspits would be reduced.

Communications Minister Censu Galea said that the WSC would shortly issue contracts for the building of a sewage treatment plant at Ic-Cumnija in Mellieha. This was an investment of €9 million through which raw sewage would no longer be pumped out to sea. Indeed, the treated water could be used for irrigation.

Referring to water quality, Mr Galea said that the WSC, which had its own laboratory, had this year taken 5,300 samples each week and this was an indication of its commitment to standards.

The minister said the corporation should ensure that the infrastructural work it was commissioning was of good quality and that this work was done in tandem with other organisations so as not to cause inconvenience.

Parliamentary secretary Edwin Vassallo said new utility services were being provided to industrial zones as part of a project which also included new roads or resurfacing. In many areas, the new roads included culverts for the utility services, avoiding the need for the roads to be dug up if faults developed.

It was important, however, that all works were coordinated to avoid delays.

Mr Vassallo also insisted that utility bills should be paid promptly. Businesses should not claim they had low cash flow between Mondays and Fridays but then there was no impact on the social life of those concerned during the weekend.

Robert Arrigo (PN) congratulated the corporation for having reduced its dependance on the government subvention.

He said that new meter reading methods should be looked into as the 40 meter readers could not possibly read all of the 220,000 accounts.

Mr Arrigo suggested that the WSC develop a three-year plan with local councils for the replacement of water pipes, thus reducing leakages.

Michael Asciak (PN) referred to opposition remarks and said the minister had given timeframes for the completion of the sewage treatment plants.

Indeed Malta would not have received EU assistance to build those plants had it not joined the EU.

The sewage treatment plants would not only produce second class water, which was good for afforestation, but they would enable the people to start using bays such as San Blas, Anchor Bay and Xaghjra, currently not used because they were close to sewage outflows.

Dr Asciak said he appreciated the WSC's efforts to reduce nitrates from tap water. He augured that the corporation would manage to reduce the number of occupational accidents involving its staff. Attention should be given to risk assessments to further reduce incidents.