The Water Services Corporation's National Investment Plan 2023-2033 consists of a €310.5 million total investment, with €126 million, or 41%, co-financed by the European Union, WSC CEO Karl Cilia told the media during a technical briefing on Monday.

Cilia said that this investment plan makes Malta one of the few countries with a plan for the coming ten years and added that the plan is there to ensure the sustainable and efficient management of water resources.

The WSC said that key projects of the investment plan include 100km of water network upgrades, reservoir renovations, RO plant upgrades, and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Detailing the WSC's 2023 records, he said that network efficiency is now at 72%, up from 2011's 52%. He continued that there was an overall infrastructure leakage index of 9.5% of water production as compared to 13% in 2013. There was also a growth increase in revenue of 11.8%, which the WSC said was brought on by an increase in demand and billing efficiency.

Cilia added that there was a record 36.7 million cubic metres of water produced to meet the increased water demand and that there was a record value of 1.6 million cubic metres of new water supplied to the farming community. He continued that chlorine levels were reduced by 30% over the whole year and that the average chloride was reduced to an average of 350 mg/l.

Cilia detailed the WSC's disbursement rate over the past years. The WSC said that it had a disbursement rate of 52% in 2020, or €11.3m. In 2021, it was a 62% rate, or €16.5m. For 2022, it was a 74% rate, or €21.2m. In 2023, the rate was 91%, or €26.1m. Finally, for 2024 the rate is 93%, or €28.6m.

Moving on to the matter of Malta's drinking water supply, Cilia said that the supply is fully compliant with the EU's Drinking Water Directive.

He remarked that tap water around Malta and Gozo is entirely safe for consumption, "though the taste is subjective" and a "work in progress". He added that the WSC is working on a "one-quality-zone" which would mean that the taste and quality of water around the country is the same.

The WSC CEO listed a number of investments the corporation has identified, including reservoir innovation, 100km of water network upgrades across the island, connecting major Gozo reservoirs, reverse osmosis upgrades, and AI modelling.

He said that recently completed works included a major Naxxar-Salini potable water project, an upgrade of potable water networks in Ghargur, Mgarr, and Hamrun, as well as upgrading of both sewer and potable water infrastructure in areas such as Naxxar, Attard, and Kalkara.

He continued that ongoing upgrades include developments in areas such as Swieqi, St Julians, Balzan, Pembroke, and Nadur. He added that upcoming upgrades are planned in Valletta, Msida, Gzira, Sliema, Birgu, Bormla, Isla, Zabbar, Zejtun, Paola, Marsa, and others.

Cilia said that the rehabilitation of various potable water production sites in Gozo is intended to increase the capacity of groundwater storage and potable water production.

Continuing, the WSC CEO said that there is investment in overhauling sewage treatment plan equipment, and that there is also an investment in micro-tunneling projects in various localities to strengthen wastewater infrastructure. He added that another investment is for sewage treatment plant upgrades.

He said that some ongoing wastewater upgrades approximate an investment of €102.5m and include Qormi, Luqa, Mqabba, Zurrieq, Zejtun, Paola, and Kirkop, among other localities.

Cilia said that there are also investments aimed at increasing new water intelligent dispensers. He commented that the dispensers are powered by solar panels and that four have been installed in the north, with four installed in the south and one installed in Gozo.

The WSC CEO said that a total of 20.7km of pipes were laid in 2023 and that until August, 9.8km were laid in 2024.

On the matter of rainwater and sewer systems, Cilia said that they should always be kept separate and that the WSC is monitoring systems aimed at ensuring that this is the case. He added that a rainwater campaign will be launched in the media to promote the importance of having separate rainwater and sewage networks and raise awareness among homeowners and landlords.

Speaking about the use of AI, Cilia said that augmented reality technology allows the WSC to see underground piping and systems from above ground, and remarked that the corporation is eager to make use of such tools.

He said that there were also over 100 cases solved and paid up of water misuse which meant the recovery of €1m in lost revenue through the use of AI modelling.