Sewage from Busietta Gardens is being dumped in a manhole in Burmarrad, causing a great deal of frustration to residents, who complain the place is overcome by pungent odours with every deposit.

Residents told Times of Malta that bowsers belonging to the Water Services Corporation were using the manhole, together with others by private companies. Some of the bowsers were unmarked.

The residents said the place stank with every deposit of human waste but, despite their complaints to various authorities, nobody would address their concerns.

Manholes where sewage can be dumped must be approved by the authorities and these do not include the one in Burmarrad, located in an area close to the corner of Giacomo Bosio Street and Hieronimus Megister Street.

The manhole is on a path stretching 20 to 30 metres between agricultural fields.

The WSC confirmed the reports, saying the dumping was a temporary measure.

“As infrastructural works are being carried out on the Coast Road, the WSC cannot use the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq pumping station.

“Therefore, the WSC is using another manhole when emptying Busietta Gardens.

“Once works on the Coast Road are concluded, the pumping station will be used once again,” a spokesman said.

Residents now have an explanation but the information has done nothing to allay their anger at not being informed despite numerous calls to the authorities to report their complaint.