WSC apologises

Tonio Bugeja (The Sunday Times, July 29) criticised the Water Services Corporation for alleged damage to private drainage connections.

Mr Bugeja claimed that when the WSC carried out works in Cannon Road corner with Qormi Road last December, some private service drainage pipes were damaged and there are leaks into third-party property - for which the Health Department is now holding the tenants responsible.

Your correspondent had written to us on April 27 and we had sent him an acknowledgement. However, due to internal communications problems between the chairman's office and the wastewater division, there was no follow-up on the case.

We would therefore like to apologise for this shortcoming and have already contacted Mr Bugeja to resolve this issue.

May I point out that since the chairman was completely unaware of the facts of this case, Mr Bugeja's claim that "the WSC chairman just thought it fit to leave us to our own devices facing the court at the Health Department's pleasure" was incorrect.

Alfred Vella claimed that "repeated breakdowns in the sewage system, especially in certain areas, have resulted in an unbearable, persistent stench" (The Sunday Times, July 29).

The Water Services Corporation wishes to make clear that there have been no repeated breakdowns in its sewer system along the Qawra to Xemxija seafront as claimed by your correspondent.

Two reports on leakages were lodged on March 22 and again on June 26. Both were traced to private cesspits. In late June there were three reports in quick succession that were rectified so quickly that they were contained and disinfected before any sewage reached the sea.

Although regrettable, this number of reports is normal in an area with thousands of house connections and is definitely not an indication of a "system breakdown".

The corporation has also blocked off a ventilation shaft in the Xemxija area to alleviate odour problems as much as possible.