Wasteserv withdrew a call for quotations for the daily supply of at least three large bowsers of potable groundwater to use for sprinkling roads and watering trees after Times of Malta raised questions about the bid.

According to the call made, the contractor had to be able to supply 1,200 litres a minute of groundwater from a borehole. That is the equivalent of what 12 people use for their domestic needs in a day.Despite years of debate on the country’s water scarcity and the over-extraction of groundwater, Wasteserv was asking for a minimum daily supply of 60,000 litres of borehole water a day for a purpose that could easily be served by second-class water.

Though the contract was to be awarded to the cheapest bidder, it was unclear what Wasteserv would actually be paying for because anyone owning a borehole extracts public water for free. Wasteserv was even offering to collect the water itself.

These concerns were raised with the Environment Ministry, which immediately distanced itself from the call saying it was an operational matter handled directly by Wasteserv. However, it did commit to withdrawing the call and revising the criteria.

“After due consideration of the points you raised, it has been decided to withdraw the call for quotations. Wasteserv will be preparing a new water procurement process that will do away with the requirement for potable water,” the ministry said.

It said potable water was being sought to ensure low salinity content and so avoid corrosive action on the wastewater trucks that were also cleaned using the same water.

Wastersv is currently building reservoirs in Maghtab and Qortin.

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