Small sewage treatment plants better than centralised one - AD
Alternattiva Demokratika has called on the government to re-assesses the current plans of a centralised sewage treatment plant for Malta's sewage in favour of the construction of a small number of decentralised plants.
Speaking during a visit to engineer Marco Cremona’s plant which recovered useable water from sewage reliably and cost-effectively, spokesman on sustainable development Carmel Cacopardo said that the current policy of pumping sewage across the Maltese islands for treatment for disposal into the sea was not sustainable, especially for the ninth thirstiest country in the world as is Malta.
He said that small decentralised treatment plants would be able to produce a constant supply of second class water for agriculture and industry across the country.
Energy spokesman Ralph Cassar said that as a first step, the government should immediately revoke the tender for the construction of a pumping station and rising mains at Wied il-Mielah in Gozo and instead construct a small sewage treatment plant for the benefit of the communities of San Lawrenz, Għarb, Sta Lucia and Għammar.
Chairman Arnold Cassola said that hotels were big consumers of water, with a guest in a five star hotel consuming as much as 350 litres daily, or four times more than a Maltese citizen. Consequently the sewage discharge from hotels was significant.
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James A. Tyrrell
Dec 13th 2008, 21:38
Another reason why smaller decentralised plants would make more sense is that a number of companies are now working alongside sewage plants in America to produce electricity. Building a fuel cell plant alongside the sewage treatment plant and using the raw sewage to produce the gas in order for the fuel cells to function can do this.
Although this research is still in the early stages it is producing power which is being used to supplement the energy needs for the sewage treatment plant. As the technology gets better it is hoped that it will eventually produce enough energy to power the sewage treatment plant with the excess being fed to the grid. More information at this link; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5335635/