The Water Services Corporation made a profit of €5.4 million last year when the Nationalist administration was projecting a 2013 loss of €5 million.

Introducing the debate on the corporation's budget in parliament, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi was upbeat about the corporation’s success but pointed out that the corporation had debts of €62 million with local banks and a further €40 million with the European Investment Bank.

Despite the fact that last March water tariffs were reduced five per cent for households, the corporation was expected to register a profit of another €5 million this year through increased efficiency and reduced costs while still making the necessary investment.

Dr Mizzi said the WSC was launching two new initiatives: a pilot project to study the country’s aquifers and identify water waste, and the introduction of a sustainable urban drainage system for both domestic and commercial use.

Water leakages, which had been steadily increasing over the last few years had, through its efficiency management programme, been reduced by 50 cubic metres an hour, he said.

The IT system agreement with IBM, which had been costing WSC an “exorbitant” amount, had been re-negotiated and restructured so that WSC would not be so dependent on the supplier. 

Improvements in the reverse osmosis plants meant they used less energy.  The corporation would benefit when the electricity tariff for industry.

Dr Mizzi said plans were in place for the building of new reservoirs for better use of groundwater and run-off water. Groundwater polishing plants would also be set up to improve water quality.