David Schembri
Sta Venera tunnel leak remains a mystery
Malta Transport denies the leak is a danger to motorists. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.
The source of the intermittent leak in the Santa Venera tunnels has not yet been found.
The leak appears about 100 metres into the northbound tunnel and because it comes right after a dry road, it is “an unnecessary hazard to motorists”, according to The Sunday Times Motoring editor Matthew Naudi.
On September 29, the tunnel was closed for two hours after water started pouring from the ceiling. The following day, with no intervention from the Water Services Corporation, the leak stopped abruptly, only to start again in December and then stop again a few days ago.
The problem, however, remains, as the source of the leak is still unknown.
When contacted, neither the WSC nor Malta Transport had an explanation for it. Both have carried out tests to establish where the water is coming from but the results have proven to be inconclusive.
Chemical tests by the WSC established that the water leaking into the tunnel was “considerably different” from that in the mains or drainage pipes running in the area and even differed from two private boreholes nearby; one near the Fleur-de-Lys roundabout and another one in Triq Antonio Miruzzi. The WSC said it could be “contaminated rain water that is somehow finding its way through fissures above the tunnel”.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the transport authority, which is responsible for the tunnel, said tests carried out on water culverts showed the fluid was not coming from there either.
The transport regulator ruled out that the fissures could be a threat to the tunnel. “Malta Transport has engaged the services of a structural engineer to assess and closely monitor the structural stability of the tunnel. The fissures are not a threat to the structural integrity and stability of the tunnel.”
But surely having a patch of water in the middle of a tunnel is an added risk for motorists?
Malta Transport disagreed, saying “the leak is currently an inconvenience rather than a danger per se” and that the situation would only become a dangerous one if one were to block the leak by sealing the fissures and allowing water to accumulate.
While it did not commit to any lasting solution to the problem, Malta Transport said it was considering installing a gutter that would divert the leak to the sides of the tunnel rather than letting it drip vertically.
In October, a spokesman for the WSC had said that if the source of the leak was not identified by the end of October, the authorities would consider at-taching a water catchment system to divert the leak to drainage channels running along the tunnel’s sides.
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Joseph A Borg
Feb 4th 2010, 10:08
to all the nay sayers… I recommend they get some information on the problems with the Chunnel and the Big Dig in Boston, amongst others.
baffles me how some people just like to denigrate anything and everything without any basis in fact. Do you get a kick out of it? I'm sure these same people are the pride of their friends and work colleagues…
Christian Sciberras
Feb 4th 2010, 08:46
J.Borg, Peter Gatt - Nowadays you find sonars capable to pass through thick concrete to reveal whatever materials are behind up to half a kilometer's distance.
It's not technology's fault if some *public-funded-and-nominated* entity is using antique tech.
Next time you two are in the voting room, give this a thought rather then the recent temporary pay rise.
Peter Gatt
Feb 3rd 2010, 14:00
One wonders, was there a proper geological assessment of the rock BEFORE the tunnel was excavated?
I do not mean just a handful of borehole cores (if any), but a proper geological assesment as is the normal practice in the rest of the world.
J.Borg
Feb 3rd 2010, 13:03
:Chemical tests by the WSC established that the water leaking into the tunnel was “considerably different” from that in the mains or drainage pipes "
This seems to be like a biblical thing....as when Moses touched the stome and water came out to satisfy the thirst of his followers.
Very funny.....if it is not as that of the mains or drainage then what could it be. Is there a factory ove the tunnel.......is it near where the old SevenUp factory used to be........surely REAL tests can be done at this age with all these technologies around!!!!
H Dempster
Feb 3rd 2010, 12:55
Soon there will be stalagmite and stalagtite forming.
w.scicluna
Feb 3rd 2010, 12:06
But surely having a patch of water in the middle of a tunnel is an added risk for motorists?
Malta Transport disagreed, saying “the leak is currently an inconvenience rather than a danger per se” ...........Apparently the Malta Transport has never tried going through that tunnel on a motorcycle. Are bikers invisible or don't they qualify to be considered? We pay road tax and insurance just the same as other motorists you know. So if we skid under the tunnel and either injure ourselves or damage our bike, what happens???? Another case of ''hu pacenzja habib?''
Paul Sciberras
Feb 3rd 2010, 11:12
So this is Malta 2010. We cannot find the sourse of water leaking into a tunnel.The same story that we also cannot find the source of the black dust in the south of Malta.Why not ask for the help of the EU?
Joe Camilleri
Feb 3rd 2010, 10:56
Imagine we had to build the Euro Tunnel, or a tunnel between Malta & Gozo. It would be swarming with fish and crabs long before its opening
lgalea
Feb 3rd 2010, 10:35
At least we have found water instead of oil.
Why not construct a channel and use the water for irrigation?