Uniform quality drinkable water will soon flow through the taps of every home in Malta according to plans unveiled by the Water Services Corporation on Monday.
Addressing a press conference, WSC chief executive Richard Bilocca said the corporation would be increasing its capacity to “blend” water produced at reverse osmosis plants or extracted from the ground water table, with that gathered in reservoirs. This would ensure uniformity of the water supplied across the island.
The increased capacity would allow the corporation to rely less on ground water extraction, which today makes up around 40 per cent of the water consumed by households
“At present we have a situation where water quality is different in different localities. But thanks to this project we will be able to ensure that the water that reaches users will be of the same quality no matter where you live,” he said.
The corporation will be boring a 9.5km underground tunnel to convey water from the Pembroke osmosis plant to the Ta Qali reservoirs, Mr Bilocca said.
The WSC will also be upgrading its reverse osmosis plants to increase energy efficiency and production capacity. Mr Bilocca said the increased capacity would allow the corporation to rely less on ground water extraction, which today makes up around 40 per cent of the water consumed by households.
The press conference was also attended by Energy Minister Joe Mizzi who said the initiatives being unveiled would cost around €100 million and had long been in the pipeline. EU Funds Parliamentary Secretary Aaron Farrugia said €92 million of the funds had come from the EU.
He also announced that the government would be extending the sewer network to remote areas currently not connected to the grid. Parts of the sewage network that desperately needed upgrading to keep up with increased flow would also be seen to.
A water supply for Gozo
The sister isle will no longer be reliant on the mainland for its water supply as the WSC plans to develop a new reverse osmosis plant in Ħondoq.
The plant will produce up to 9,000 cubic metres of water every day and ensure self-sufficiency on Gozo.
Gozitans have routinely complained that the island’s dependence on Malta has often left without water in certain localities.