A greywater recycling system was inaugurated at Hellen Keller Resource Centre in Qrendi by President Marie- Louise Coleiro Preca. The new system will enable the reuse of treated water for garden irrigation.

The installation is part of the globally-recognised Alter Aqua programme, which was introduced in Malta in 2011 by the Coca-Cola Foundation to promote the use of non-conventional water resources, such as rainwater harvesting, stormwater management, greywater recycling and treated wastewater reuse, as a sustainable way to increase water availability and adapt to climate change at local level.

President Coleiro Preca said that one of the benefits of the new system is the reduction in the prohibitive costs of the volume of water used for the centre’s jacuzzi, which offers essential hydro-therapeutic treatment to children and young adults who rely on the centre.

“Thanks to the installation of this system water is being treated and re-sued to also secure benefits to other parts of the centre. Indeed, alongside hydrotherapy, the centre’s gardens are receiving irrigation without placing undue stress on limited freshwater resources,” she said.

Alter Aqua is a multi-stakeholder programme supported with an investment of more than €1 million by the Coca-Cola Foundation, the company’s primary philanthropic arm, as part of Coca-Cola’s global commitment to water stewardship and co-funded with $440,000 by the Gozo Ministry.

The partners of the programme are the international NGO Global Water Partnership–Mediterranean, responsible for the implementation of the programme, the Gozo Ministry and its Eco-Gozo Directorate, the Energy and Water Agency and the Coca-Cola System in Malta (Coca-Cola Malta and General Soft Drinks Co. Ltd).

The educational partners are Nature Trust Malta and the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment Culture and Sustainable Development.

Since 2011, Alter Aqua has implemented significant  infrastructure works in the Maltese islands, including 11 rainwater harvesting systems throughout Gozo, at public school buildings, the Gozo Experimental Farm and the Ministry for Gozo; the installation of four greywater recycling systems at the Gozo Football Stadium, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (Mcast) and the Helen Keller Resource Centre; the Tal-Qroqq Sports Complex’ National Swimming Pool; reinstatement of a stormwater retention application at Ramla Valley in Gozo.

Going beyond the infrastructure works, Alter Aqua has made a significant investment in instilling the values of sustainable water management to the next generation. Since 2011, 10,358 students were educated on sustainable development in schools and 926 teachers have been trained in this field.

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