A natural water barrier near the coast will stop Malta losing precious water from the aquifers to the sea. That would mean recharging the water table, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said yesterday when replying to questions in Parliament.

He said previous administrations had done the right thing by filtering waste water but millions of litres were still thrown into the sea. As from next year, millions of litres of waste water would be polished back into good, “new” water. This would cost less and allow farmers to harvest better produce without the saline water currently available from the aquifer.

Opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco enquired about new jobs at the Water Services Corporation, how they had been filled and what had been the increase in the salaries bill. Dr Mizzi said some of those questions had already been answered and he would be providing more details at later sittings.

Labour MP Deo Debattista asked if new jobs at Enemalta and the WSC could be afforded following savings of about €20 million from electricity theft.

Dr Mizzi said the government believed in economic growth not austerity.