New sewage treatment plant inaugurated

A sewage treatment plant at Ic-Cumnija near Anchor Bay was inaugurated this morning, marking the culmination of an €11m project financed under the Italian financial protocol.

The plant is the second of three plants which will ensure that all sewage is treated before being dumped into the sea. The third and biggest plant still has to be built in the south of Malta. The first, in Gozo, was inaugurated early last year.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who inaugurated the new plant, said these projects were important not only in view of Malta’s international commitments, but especially for reasons of health, environmental protection and promotion of the tourism product, particularly diving holidays.

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt said the project was only slightly behind schedule and had gone over budget by about €100,000.

The plant will treat 6,700 cubic metres of sewage daily. A study is being carried out by the Water Services Corporation on the viability of treating the sewage further so that it could be used for agricultural purposes, rather than being pumped out to sea.

The three plants will in total cost €100 million. The third plant, which has been mired in controversy over location and the granting of contracts, will be paid for through EU funds. It is expected to be commissioned next year.

The new plant started operating in October but had to be shut down after contamination of the water table.