Sewage still flowing into the sea in Gozo, AD says

Raw sewage is still spouting into the sea at Wied il-Mielaħ, in Għarb plaguing the scenic valley despite the construction of a municipal wastewater treatment plant, Alternattiva Demokratika said yesterday.

AD chairman Arnold Cassola said it was understood that the Water Services Corporation was supposed to build a pumping station in the valley to transfer sewage from Għarb, San Lawrenz, Sta Luċija and Għammar to the sewage treatment plant at Ras il-Ħobż.

The flow of raw sewage was violating the Urban Wastewater Directive, AD's spokesman for Gozo, Victor Galea said, adding that he had asked the European Commission to intervene. The situation was not only endangering the biodiversity of the area but also the residents' health. Moreover, various reports had been sent to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority on the matter but no reply was forthcoming, AD said.

AD said the government should build a small sewage treatment plant to avoid pumping sewage to Ras il-Ħobż and provide second class water for irrigation. Such a project would contribute to cutting down on groundwater extraction, save on the capital costs of laying sewage mains and resurfacing of roads and on energy costs in pumping the sewage, Mr Galea said.