Paceville water cut

I refer to the letter "WSC service in Paceville".

Joseph Mercieca, being head of public relations at the Water Services Corporation, cannot but mellow down the inefficiency at the corporation.

As from Tuesday, February 25, there was a water cut in Gort and Ball streets. On February 28, we were informed of a contingency plan. On March 1, an emergency back-up group supplied the water service to the households in Gort Street, but no instructions were given to supply water in Ball Street. They decided to solve the matter later on Monday.

On the Friday, Saturday and Sunday we were given an efficient bowser service. However efficient this service can be, one has to waste three hours of the day waiting, begging and helping the water distributors in order to have less than a cubic metre of water in the tank. Does this not remind you of days long gone, when at least water cuts were on alternate days?

Tony Vella, at customer care, was of very little help, admitting he was not informed about the resumption of the service. The engineer (is there one?) could not be contacted anywhere.

As from February 28 at 3 p.m. and right through the weekend, there was no way one could contact the local council for enlightenment.

By 10 a.m. on Monday, March 3, there was still no sign of any workers on the road. Customer care could only book a bowser for the complainant.

After a week without any water, frustration took over and, steam coming out of every orifice in my head, screaming down my telephone line, I phoned the chairman's office. At the other end, Michelle Mallia went beyond her call of duty, listening patiently to a madman screaming down the line, and trying to calm me down. Nobody I phoned so far was anywhere near her efficiency.

True to her promise, 30 minutes later there was a contingency group who managed to give us the service in 20 minutes flat. Thank you Miss Mallia.

Mr Mercieca can recount his one-day water cut to the sailors.