In line with the EU 2020 strategy and Energy 2020 initiatives, this project addresses the need to create an environmentally-friendly society by promoting resource-efficient economies and reducing water scarcity.
- 13 August 2019
The islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino will benefit from the provision of a sustainable supply of good-quality drinking water and improved wastewater services. The new infrastructure will enhance security of supply, reduce the islands’ dependency on bottled water, help reduce carbon emissions and safeguard groundwater resources.
Currently, groundwater is the only natural water source across Malta, and not enough is available to meet demand. In addition, the islands lack other natural water resources and have to cope with long, dry seasons and an average rainfall of around only 550 mm per year. Consequently, residents and visitors rely on desalinated water provided by a number of reverse osmosis plants. This project delivers a number of elements which will address water scarcity on the island while refurbishing parts of the sewerage network.
This project will provide more sustainable water resources and improve water quality for its 434 403 residents and 1.9 million visitors per year.
Work includes the following:
Boring a 9.5 km underground tunnel with a width ranging from 3 m to 4.5 m to convey water from the reverse osmosis plant in the town of Pembroke, in northern Malta, to the Ta’ Qali reservoirs. This will allow the island’s water services company to refine water blending and provide drinking water of uniform quality across the island. It will increase energy efficiency by reducing pumping frictional losses.A new reverse osmosis plant will be built at Hondoq Ir-Rummien on Gozo, which will produce up to 9 000 cubic metres of water per day. This will ensure that the island is self-sufficient in water production. In addition, existing reverse osmosis plants will be upgraded to increase energy efficiency and production capacity.The drinkable water supply network serving remote areas near Siggiewi, Qrendi and Haz-Zebbug in southern Malta will be extended by 32.1 km. The work will provide improvements in water quality while protecting local groundwater supplies. Groundwater galleries are to be upgraded to prevent saline infiltration.A 15.4 km extension of the sewerage network will connect remote areas mostly in the north, north-west and south-east parts of Malta. Meanwhile, a 4.7 km section of the existing network will be rehabilitated and advanced discharge monitoring introduced to increase system efficiency.The project will develop a 61 km distribution system for water which will reach more farmers. The system will provide around 8 million cubic metres of water per year, to be used for irrigation. This water source will replace current use of groundwater abstraction for agriculture.The improvements in water quality – including its taste – should result in a large reduction in the use of bottled water. The convenience and reduced cost of new, sustainable supplies will improve living standards for the majority of the population on the islands. The project will produce economic benefits to businesses, including those in tourism, a sector that accounts for nearly 14 % of economic activity.
The increase of water reuse will enhance groundwater sustainability. Improvements to infrastructure will increase energy efficiency and so reduce carbon emissions.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Towards a net zero impact Water Utility - Ensuring Integrated Water Resource Management” is EUR 165 480 333, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 73 950 000 through the “Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Investing in a more environmentally friendly society”.