As Balluta Bay remains unfit for swimmers after a sewage leak was found to have polluted the bay, a court expert yesterday said the investigation of the sewage system in the area is under way and is expected to be concluded shortly.

The bay was declared unfit for bathing about three weeks ago, but the problem seemed to have been solved some time later and the bay was again declared fit for swimming.

However, the Department of Public Health had already opened a court case against the Water Services Corporation (WSC), holding it responsible for a stoppage in the main sewer in the area that had in turn caused the sewage leak.

WSC argued that there was no problem in their system. Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani carried out an onsite inquiry on 30 August to ensure that the situation was under control.

However, it was not long before public health officers found that the bay had been polluted again; it had to be closed to bathers for the second time in the space of two weeks or so.

Testifying before Magistrate Padovani yesterday, court expert Valerio Schembri said he would be carrying out more tests and interviews on Tuesday. The main sewer from where the problem seems to stem is being investigated by means of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system.

The case continues.

The Department of Health Department is being represented by health inspector manager John Attard Kingswell and Dr Guido Pace Spadaro is appearing on behalf of WSC.