The Water Services Corporation (WSC) has been given European Union funds to upgrade its reverse osmosis plants in order to improve the quality of drinking water that is produced.
WSC chairman Michael Falzon said the WSC has been granted funds from the EU’s 2004-2006 European Regional Development Fund. The Drinking Water Quality Project is expected to cost around E6 million. A total of 73 per cent of the cost will be covered by the EU funds, while the remainder will be paid by the corporation.
The WSC is expected to save an estimated 20 per cent on its electricity consumption; equivalent to around Lm300,000 annually. The project is expected to start in early 2007 and completed by the end of that year.
Nearly 33 million cubic metres of water in 2004 were consumed in Malta and Gozo or 81-cubic-metres of water per head. The average daily consumption for Malta was 82,681 cubic metres and 7,157 cubic metres for Gozo.
Mr Falzon said contracts have already been awarded to four main suppliers who will provide the necessary equipment, such as high-quality pumps, energy saving devices and the supply of a special membranes.
“Using today’s technology, the Water Services Corporation will be in a position to upgrade its reverse osmosis plants in order to be more efficient and consume less electricity to provide this water,” he said.
Investment and Information Technology Minister Austin Gatt praised the WSC for its determination to continue improving the quality of drinking water in Malta. He said the government had been thinking of privatising the reverse osmosis plants however, owning to investment from the European Union and that by the corporation itself, the idea has shelved.
Dr Gatt said the WSC is expected to increase its water production by 38.6 per cent, while the new membranes will improve the quality of drinking water.
“This is a brave step towards improving the quality of water in Malta. The WSC had to work around a decrease of Lm5.5 million in the government’s subsidy and without having to sack people. This is the result of the government’s and the WSC’s forward-looking policies,” he said.