Fiddien reservoir still cannot be used - Rabat, Dingli water supply being rationed

The Water Services Corporation said today that although its tests showed that the water quality at Fiddien Reservoir is safe, it still cannot use the reservoir because a magistrate has ordered new, independent tests.

As a result, water is being distributed to several areas of Rabat and Dingli on a schedule of a few hours for each zone.

Several readers in the Rabat and Dingli areas have been complained of long water cuts.

The corporation reported last Tuesday that somebody had dumped used engine oil onto the borehole equipment right next to the reservoir. The corporation immediately isolated the borehole from the reservoir and informed the Health Authorities, the Malta Resources Authority and the Police.

The reservoir - one of Malta's biggest - was also isolated from the water distribution network as a precaution. 

A series of samples were taken and analysed at the WSC laboratories and other samples were sent abroad for more detailed analysis. In the meantime a magisterial inquiry was launched.

The Corporation’s engineers started to divert water from other areas in order to reduce  the effects of this sabotage. However, due to the increased pressures required to pump water from further down the primary network, a large water main near Fiddien burst and it took 12 hours to repair.

 Last Friday all tests confirmed that the Fiddien reservoir water was within the EU Drinking Water Directives parameters.

The WSC informed the health authorities for clearance. However, the Health Authorities told the WSC that the Magisterial Inquiry had requested  independent tests. The WSC was therefore instructed not to use the Fiddien reservoir water until the Magisterial inquiry is concluded.

The WSC regretted the inconvenience and appealed to anyone who may have information concerning this sabotage to contact the police.