The Water Services Corporation has inaugurated a new control room through which it can better manage its facilities and detect faults quickly.

The new control room, in Luqa, was inaugurated by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, who said that WSC officials were now better able to manage water reserves and handle requests for interventions in the water distribution network.

He said that this investment followed investment at the reverse osmosis plants to make them more energy efficient.

Mr Fenech said the next major investment milestone will be in the treatment of waste water to a higher level so that it can be reused for agricultural or industrial use instead of being pumped out to sea. The €12 million, three-year project is expected to be co-financed by the EU.

He also noted substantial investment made in the past to replace major parts of the distribution network, substantially cutting down on leakage. As a result, losses through leakage have  been reduced from 21% to 14% up to last year.

The WSC next Saturday will organise an Open Day at Pembroke Reverse Osmosis plant, its plant at Ta' Barkat, the Ta Kandja galleries, the Luqa laboratories and the new control room. People may visit between 9 am. and 4 p.m.