Sewage pumping facilities

Harry Vassallo's opinion piece (August 25) contained a scathing attack on the Water Services Corporation, its management and employees, particularly the wastewater section.

With a sweeping statement that "the sea is an open sewer", Dr Vassallo tries to lead the readers to the mistaken conclusion that the WSC is indifferent and insensitive to complaints. May I put the public's mind at rest that this is definitely not the case. Quite the contrary, the corporation has a 24/7 operation that deals with all emergencies in Malta and Gozo.

Dr Vassallo stated that the sewage pumping facility at Marsamxett suffers from regular if not continuous faults - and suggested that the WSC should perhaps invest in a spare pump. Dr Vassallo also implied that the sewage pumping facilities in Paceville and Bugibba are faulty.

Here are the facts.

The gravity main from Marsamxett to Floriana suffered a number of "stoppages" caused by the irresponsible dumping of fats and other damaging materials such as rubble, rags and other materials. These were cleared by WSC personnel.

The stoppages sometimes cause minor sewage overflows into the sea, which, although regrettable, are not the corporation's fault.

All WSC pumps are in good working order and are subject to a rigorous maintenance programme. Regarding the correspondent's suggestion to invest "in a spare" (pump), this would solve nothing as the problem is not pump related. In any case the pumps we are referring to are very expensive and installing excess and unnecessary pumps would simply be a waste of money.

Among many other activities, this year (July 2005-August 2006) the WSC's wastewater section started works on two new wastewater treatment plants, installed 5.3 kilometres of new sewer mains, cleaned 400 kilometre of existing sewers and carried out CCTV surveys in 45 localities. The section will soon begin works on a 4.7-kilometre underground gallery and a kilometre pressure main.

The WSC is a dynamic forward-looking organisation. We have our faults and deficiencies, but these are a far cry from the picture Dr Vassallo tried to paint.

Finally, we would be most willing to host Dr Vassallo to a tour of our facilities and let him judge for himself through first-hand information.