A sewage leak in Safi that contaminated private wells and which residents said had rendered thousands of gallons of water unsafe has been fixed, the Water Services Corporation said.

The Times of Malta last month reported residents’ health concerns and frustrations over the delay in resolving the issue.

The WSC said on Monday that the problem, identified as localised and not related to its infrastructure, had been addressed. It said the leak originated from several private house connections, which had been repaired.

Identifying the source took time

The issue first came to light late last year when the local council attempted to start works on an underground World War II shelter in the village square, only to find it flooded. Tests confirmed that the problem was a sewage leak, but identifying the source took time.

The WSC said that tests had indicated the problem was not a result of faults in its sewers.

It is not clear how many residents may have been affected by the leak, but the mayor has said the problem was likely limited to the area immediately surrounding the village square, which was not home to a large number of people.