A sand re-nourishment project inaugurated at Balluta Bay barely four days ago has already been washed away by the waves.

The project, which was funded by the Mariott Hotel, was inaugurated on Wednesday by Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, who said that a sand re-nourishment programme would be carried out at the site every year.

The project was first carried out in the summer of 2018, with most of the sand being carried out to sea within weeks, first by a heavy downpour and later by strong waves.

This year’s project has met a similar fate as the bay was hit by strong waves caused by the north easterly wind.

Commenting in Facebook, geologist Peter Gatt said a percentage of the 'sand' placed on the beach is actually silt, which is easily removed by moderate to high waves.

"This explains the murky sea in the bay," he wrote.

"This cannot be called a beach re-nourishment project, but a short-lived, man made shift of material from marine to sub-aerial environments. What needs to be ascertained is whether the sand/silt on the beach (where children are playing) includes pollutants coming from the Balluta valley."

The government has also re-nourished the sand at Fajtata bay in Marsascala while another two projects are underway at St George’s Bay in Birzebbuga and Ghar L-Ahmar in Marsaxlokk.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has said that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not required for three of the four beach re-nourishment projects.

San Giljan mayor Albert Buttigieg said on Facebook that "before we start thinking of building breakwaters or some submerged reefs, let us do some proper PROFESSIONAL studies to understand how the currents, waves and sediment move around the bay".