Updated with management's reaction

Diners at restaurants situated along the Laguna Walk at Smart City were in for a shock recently when they were met with a foul smell coming from the fountains all along the lagoon, this newspaper has learnt.

Although promoted as having vast open areas where diners can enjoy meals al fresco, it soon became clear to those at the Kalkara complex that the unbearable smell was emanating from the water in the fountain at the Laguna.

“The smell was horrendous and at times unbearable. Needless to add that this also poses serious health perils to visitors – especially on windy days, because of the water spray hitting passers-by during the hourly fountain shows,” one visitor told this newspaper, adding that the water had a green hue.

The smell was horrendous and at times unbearable

Photos taken by this newspaper a few days later showed the water was not only green in colour but was also stagnant at some places, with a slick consisting of an oily substance on the surface.

“The stench of the water was so strong that we could smell it from one of the restaurants,” claimed the visitor.

In a column in this newspaper recently, other visitors also expressed concern that the area could be a breeding ground for mosquitos and other insects.

“Worse than that however, the Laguna itself was in a disgraceful state and the water looked filthy,” one visitor said.

Originally, the Smart City project was intended to develop the 360,000-square-metre area in Xagħjra into an ICT city on the same model as the Dubai Internet city. However, the area has become home to other non-ICT related businesses as well as government authorities. The Malta Gaming Authority relocated to Smart City earlier this year, while the Malta Tourism Authority is expected to move to Kalkara in the coming months.

The area will also be host the Institute for Tourism Studies with the government forking out €50 million for the relocation.

A number of restaurants, most of which have tables and chairs outside, also set up shop at the Laguna.

MANAGEMENT SAYS FOUL SMELL FROM LAGUNA 'UNLIKELY'

Questions sent to Smart City management were not answered by the time of writing but in a reaction today, the company said that the 12,000 cubic meters of sea water at SmartCity Malta’s Laguna was replaced every four days and the likelihood of a foul smell emanating from it was "remote and very unlikely".

Water tests including tests for legionella were also carried out on a regular basis thereby ensuring conformity with all obligations of the development permit.

"Since the Laguna is filled with sea water and the permit does not allow use of chemicals, marine life propagates giving the water the greenish colour being referred to in recent media reports.

"However to ensure that the water in the Laguna is clean from any bacteria, the water level is lowered every month where the fountain equipment is exposed and cleaned to remove the salt deposits and marine life growth."

The management saidthat the in-house engineering and maintenance team was also in the processes of completing an aspiration system that was able to clear away the marine life and dust from the bottom of the Laguna flooring.

"This will be linked to the regular maintenance programme for the soft and hard landscaping of the area, as well as the necessary cleaning plans for the up-keep of the SmartCity campus."

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