The sewage system blockage in Naxxar on Tuesday afternoon led to two sewage overflows in Naxxar and a subsequent one in Qormi later on. The blockage was said to have been caused by straw, rags and rope.

In a statement yesterday, the Water Services Corporation explained that the first overflow was caused by a blockage in an underground sewer gallery leading from Gharghur to Naxxar.

Considerable quantities of straw in the system led to the blockage which caused the underground gallery to fill with sewage and when WSC workers lifted a manhole cover in Triq id-Dejqa, Naxxar to carry out maintenance works, large quantities of sewage overflowed into the streets. The amounts of straw in the system meant that a farm could have been the possible source.

WSC workers diverted the sewage flow to another unblocked part of the collection system. Separate teams of workers, using five specialised jetting bowsers, pressure-washed and disinfected the affected areas. The situation returned to normal by around 11pm, the statement said.

The large amount of farming waste that was released into the system got carried down to Qormi where another blockage and sewage overflow occurred in Valletta Road. The blockage was cleared by 8pm and the areas were washed and disinfected by around midnight. During the clearing operation in Qormi rags and even rope were found blocking the system. In both cases the WSC implemented traffic-control measures.

WSC chief executive Marc Muscat said that these episodes cost the corporation much time, money and resources, not to mention the inconvenience caused to residents and motorists. Mr Muscat appealed to the public not to dump any unauthorised materials such as oil, fats, rags, and straw into the sewer system. Members of the public were also encouraged to report any such abuse on free phone 8007-2222.

The corporation said it regretted inconvenience to the residents and motorists in the areas affected.