The historic aqueduct along Triq l-Imdina, Mrieħel, is being overrun by weeds and litter, residents have complained. “This is just unacceptable. Can you imagine having a landmark like this anywhere in the world surrounded by broken bottles, litter piling up and weeds? It just looks a mess,” Birkirkara resident Janette Balzan said.

She said she walks her dog along the aqueduct every day and could no longer tolerate the landmark being used as a dumping site, allowed to look abandoned by the authorities.

The 17th-century aqueduct along Triq l-Imdina is being overrun by weeds and litter, residents have complained.

Ms Balzan was joined in her disapproval by other residents, who said that the once pristine walkway along the aqueduct looked “shabby”.

The splendid aqueduct, built during the reign of Grand Master Fra Alof de Wignacourt between 1610 and 1614, is more than 15 kilometres long.

In 2010, the surviving sections of the aqueduct were restored to their former magnificence with the addition of sculpted, night-time floodlighting to enhance their beauty.

Birkirkara mayor Joanne Debono Grech said Malta that although maintenance of the aqueduct did not fall within the council’s remit, she too noticed it had started to look “scruffy”.

She said she would refer the matter to the authorities, including heritage watchdog Heritage Malta.

“Our national heritage definitely deserves better than this,” she said.

The 17th-century aqueduct once carried water from natural springs in Dingli and Rabat to the newly built capital city, Valletta. The water was carried through underground pipes and over arching viaducts across depressions in the terrain.

The first attempts to build the aqueduct were made by Grand Master Martin Garzez in 1596, but construction was suspended before continuing in 1610. The watercourse was inaugurated five years later, in 1615.

Although linked to the Knights of Malta, the aqueduct actually remained in use into the 20th century.