The Democratic Party has called for action to sold a longstanding sewage outflow problem at  Xatt l-Aħmar, Gozo. 

The party said that is appeared that the problem was caused by the dumping of cow dung into sewage pipes via manholes used for maintenance. The straw mixed with the dung was blocking the filters disrupting the sewage treatment process.

"When Malta joined the EU funds were made available to build onsite plants to treat cow dung at the farms, this was never done and the farmers have nowhere to dispose of the waste. It is now time that a separate treatment plant specific to processing cow dung is built to resolve this problem," the party said. 

After passing through the sewage system process the supposedly treated water is released into the sea through a pipe with exit holes at 80-100 metres. This pipeline itself has been damaged.

"Often the sea at ix-Xatt l-Aħmar becomes completely opaque due to the released effluent. The surrounding sea and area stinks of the same. The cost to repair the pipeline would be approximately 100,000 euro. Is it possible funds cannot be allocated for this? it asked.