The black effluent discharged into the sea from a pipe at Ricasoli port facilities. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The operator of the waste oil treatment facility at Ricasoli is investigating an unusual discharge into the sea following a report by The Sunday Times of Malta.

When the newspaper visited the site last week, the effluent from a pipe located within the ditch of Fort Ricasoli and discharged onto the rocky shore beneath the fort’s walls was black rather than its usual light colour.

The facility at Rinella receives liquid waste from vessels and from industry for treatment to remove oils and other chemical contaminants prior to discharge into the sea.

Kalkara residents have complained about the stench and effluent from the facility but the operator, Falzon Group, said it was forced to wait for Mepa permits before investing in the needed upgrade.

“The black colour of the water from the pipe is not a normal occurrence. As soon as you brought it to our attention we immediately started investigating the possible cause,” a Falzon Group spokeswoman said, committing to inform this newspaper of the results.

“As soon as the cause of this rare trickle of black water is determined, rest assured we will be taking all remedial action necessary to eliminate any potential recurrence,” she added.

The company said a possible explanation was the periodic release of black deposits created over the years inside the old channel, used before it took over operations last year. It has since replaced the channel to minimise contact of the effluent with the rocks.

The discharge of large quantities has potential implications for marine life

Architect Carmel Cacopardo said that the company’s environmental permit obliged it to report any significant incident to Mepa. This newspaper sent the evidence to Mepa, which replied: “The operator is obliged to provide Mepa with a log of the discharges and test results which assess the quality of water discharged. The results of the discharge for past months show the parameters are within limits set by the environmental permit.”

Falzon Group said no oil was being released into the sea, as the “normal” discharge consisted of treated water containing hydrogen sulfide, a reduced form of sulphur. This reduces the risk to swimmers in the area, as the ingredient occurs naturally in seawater.

The quantity of sulphur being discharged may still affect marine life in the area, according to marine biologist Alan Deidun, who first brought the problem to the newspaper’s attention.

“Sulphur affects the water’s acidity, so the discharge of large quantities has potential implications for marine life. Those species that have a shell, such as molluscs, sea urchins, star fish, crabs and lobsters, may suffer,” he said, pointing out that monitoring results must be made available to determine any impact.

Falzon Group stressed it was waiting for the necessary permits from Mepa to upgrade the facility, which, in turn, depended on the required integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) permit being issued. Once permits were in hand, the group said it would be “investing substantially in the most advanced equipment”.