I refer to the press conference held by the Malta Water Association wherein the MWA called for treated wastewater to be re-used and not dumped at sea. (NGO calls for better use of recycled water TMID, 15 September).

Ever since the former drainage department was incorporated within the Water Services Corporation in 2004, the immediate objective was to have the Maltese Islands comply with the Urban Waste Water Directive. After reviewing the Malta Sewage Master plan of 1992 drawn up by Danish and updated by German consultants in 2002, the Corporation drew up its own plans to implement this ambitious programme. These plans were examined in detail by EU appointed experts before the go-ahead was given to tap into EU funds.

In spite of the many huge difficulties we faced and within the finances available, by the beginning of 2011 year the WSC had built 3 sewage treatment plants. So, once Malta was now completely in line with the EU Urban Waste Water Directives, we could sharpen our focus on treated sewage effluent (TSE) re-use.

As soon as the first plant located in Gozo began operating the Water Services Corporation set up a team of engineers to study the characteristics of the TSE. However, treatment plants need a good infrastructure to convey wastewater to them, so a review of the master plan for the sewage infrastructure was prepared which identified those critical areas where salinity was high (i.e. salty water was entering the sewage system) and major interventions were necessary. Therefore the WSC Corporation started tackling the worst areas having the highest impact on the wastewater reaching our treatment plants.

In tandem with the above the WSC Laboratory began a campaign to raise awareness among commercial entities so that they manage their discharge effluent. These steps were necessary since sewage treatment plants are only designed to handle urban wastewater so that their discharges do not cause damage to the environment.

Treated effluent re-use, however, goes beyond the scope of sewage treatment plants, and we always planned for potential re-use without the need of any retrofitting to the plants.

With these issues in mind the Corporation continued researching the best technologies available. Using its expertise in water technologies and in collaboration with international organizations, in 2009 the WSC installed a pilot plant in Gozo. The Corporation monitored results over a period of six months before relocating the plant to other areas. It is currently operating at Ta’ Barkat to test the effluent re-use potential in that area.

This time consuming process was necessary since the Corporation was anxious to avoid the difficulties caused by the treated effluent produced by the old San Antnin plant. Furthermore, new regulations covering food safety and the potential to artificially recharge our depleted and damaged aquifers, meant that the Corporation would have to address these aspects as well.

Malta like most EU countries lacks a proper regulatory framework on treated effluent re-use. Therefore whilst keeping abreast of the developments in technologies the Corporation also needed to follow up on developments in regulations, which is being done by a group of professionals.

The Corporation has now reached at stage where it has a dedicated team drawing up the technical specifications for the construction of phase-two plants. These will be based on polishing plants using ultra-filtration and reverse-osmosis membranes coupled with disinfection. Additionally the Corporation is also preparing distribution networks containing hydrants for water tanker applications. These are due by the beginning of 2013 depending on permits and funds availability.

Discussions with Malta Environmental and Planning Authority, Malta Resources Authority as well as PPCD are ongoing. The Corporation is also working with the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs for additional networks that the ministry is planning to service and support the farming community.

The issues mentioned above are extremely complex so the importance and co-ordination of all these efforts should not be underestimated. The Corporation is committed to eventually provide a safe, high quality product whilst keeping the operational costs as low as possible. But it will only do this after having exhausted all efforts at using the best technology and work practices available.

This information has time and again been made available to members of the Malta Water Association as we believe in their positive contribution towards the common good.

■ Stephen Zerafa

Head Public Relations

Water Services Corporation