With 158 tenders issued, and 130 of them already adjudicated, the 2017 EU funds disbusement target of €37 million has been reached ahead of the planned deadline, the Water Services Corporation said Friday.

At a press event at the Ta' Kandja Pumping Station, it was explained that seawater desalination plants will be upgraded both in terms of capacity and efficiency, producing much more water with less energy.

Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia, Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna, and Minister for Energy and Water Management Joe Mizzi were also present at the event.

It was explained that groundwater abstraction went down by 4 billion litres per year, and over 7 billion litres of new water were produced, with over 400 dispensers for agricultural use. This also includes a new reverse osmosis in Gozo with a capacity of 9 million litres per day.

Major upgrades to the sewage network are also being undertaken, and new sewage treatment technology are being introduced.

WSC CEO Richard Bilocca explained "that such work would have never materialised hadn't it been for the great work ethos of the Corporation's workforce and the impressive synergy attained with the Department of Contracts, the EU Funds Managing Authority (PPCD), the Treasury, and other Government entities".

Photos by Alenka Falzon