In previous letters (TMID, 21 July), I touched on three related items. Once again I wrote that the laying of a new layer of tarmac on a temporary and certainly defective water distribution system was waste of taxpayer’s money. And I have been proved right over and over again.

Once again, I wrote that a leaking water pipe reported in these columns on a Thursday was fixed on the following Monday, more than four days later. Once again, I reported another leak, not more than three metres away from the one mentioned above.

But now I am beginning to think that some individual at the Water Services Corporation (WSC) is beginning to believe that the corporation is his own private property! And he is thinking that he can do whatever he likes to spite (!) his critics.

Why do I say so? I am faxing these lines on Monday 28, exactly seven days after the leak was reported.

And yet the leak is still there sending a large amount of expensive water down the drain. This irresponsible attitude is unacceptable and should not, certainly, be tolerated.

We are often reminded that water is heavily subsidised, that one-fifth of the energy produced by the power station is needed to ensure a regular supply of fresh water and we are often urged to economise. And then we have someone at the WSC with this couldn’t careless attitude.

The minister concerned is expected to look into the matter and whoever is responsible should explain to the general public. Someone, certainly, has to answer for this gross inefficiency.

If the WSC are finding it difficult to continue with their goodwill scheme of cleaning and repairing the individual’s drainage system, they should terminate the scheme immediately. A walk around Mosta will show that leaks can be spotted round every corner.

Giov. DeMartino

Mosta