The project, co-financed by the European Union, tackles four key actions to strengthen the New Water infrastructure
A €24.5 million investment by the Water Services Corporation, co-financed by the European Union, will lead to the extension of the capacity and network of New Water in the South and Southwest regions of the island.
The investment was announced by Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Enterprise, Miriam Dalli, and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds, Chris Bonett. Accompanied by WSC CEO Karl Cilia, the two visited the Ta’ Barkat Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The multimillion investment will continue to support the government’s efforts to reduce the pressure from groundwater use. Reusing water is part of the circular economy strategy, where resources are reused, and waste is minimised.
The upgrade is expected to ensure farmers a sustainable and resilient water supply. It is estimated that some 350 farmers, covering an additional 223 hectares of agricultural land, will benefit from this expansion.
“The project is a clear reflection of our relentless commitment towards a sustainable future for Malta and our investment in a greener economy. The New Water initiative has been widely welcomed by farmers, and we want to continue building on its success,” Minister Miriam Dalli said.
Miriam Dalli stated that, “together we are taking bold steps towards a greener and more resilient Malta. This project signifies our commitment to meeting the needs of farmers and safeguarding our agricultural sector for generations to come.”
The investment is based on four pillars: (i) upgrading the capacity at the Barkat Polishing Plant; (ii) applying a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) system to supply water from Barkat and Sant Antnin to the Bidni, San Anard, and Xgħajra Reservoirs; (iii) extending the southwest network to access previously underserved areas such as Żurrieq, Safi, Marsaxlokk, Żejtun, Gaxaxaq, and Gudja; and (iv) the installation of booster stations and pipework.
Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett stated, “Once again, together with the help of EU Funds, we are providing the infrastructure needed for the development of agriculture, which is of benefit to a wider range of rural and agricultural stakeholders.”
Parliamentary Secretary Bonett further explained how this project, supported under EAFRD Programme Measure 4.3, is also in line with the objectives of the CAP Strategic Plan. With the provision of new ways of obtaining water for farmers, the government can foster a resilient and diversified agricultural sector while ensuring long-term food security, and strengthening environmental protection, climate action, and the socio-economic fabric of rural areas.
WSC CEO Karl Cilia said, “This comprehensive plan marks a new chapter in our commitment to providing a sustainable and reliable new water supply to our communities. We are moving from talk to action, implementing cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure to ensure efficient management and utilisation of our water resources.”
The investment includes expanding the plant’s production capacity of Highly Polished Tertiary Treated Effluent (HPPTW) by 6,000 cubic meters per day. This upgrade will require the addition of two Ultrafiltration/Reverse Osmosis systems, each producing a peak flow of 125 cubic meters per hour. The New Water will be remineralized and disinfected through an Advanced Oxidation system.
By employing a smart electronic dispenser system, the WSC aims to reduce water losses along the pumping mains.
The network will be implemented through surface trenching, spanning 12km, ensuring a reliable and sustainable water supply for agricultural needs.
Espansjoni tan-netwerk tan-New Water fin-Nofsinhar ta’ Malta biex tissaħħaħ il-provvista u titnaqqas il-pressjoni mill-użu tal-groundwater
Il-proġett, li hu kofinanzjat mill-Unjoni Ewropea, jindirizza erba’ aspetti ewlenin biex tissaħħaħ l-infrastruttura tan-New Water
Investiment ta’ €24.5 miljun mill-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma (WSC), kofinanzjat mill-Unjoni Ewropea, se jwassal għall-estensjoni fin-netwerk ta’ New Water fir-reġjuni tan-Nofsinhar u tal-Lbiċ ta’ Malta, kif ukoll żieda fl-ammont.
L-investiment tħabbar mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli u mis-Segretarju Parlamentari għall-Fondi Ewropej, Chris Bonett, waqt żjara fl-impjant tat-Trattament tal-Wastewater f’Ta’ Barkat, flimkien mal-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-WSC, Karl Cilia.
L-investiment multimiljunarju jikkumplimenta l-impenn tal-gvern biex titnaqqas il-pressjoni mill-użu tal-groundwater. L-użu mill-ġdid tal-ilma huwa parti mill-istrateġija tal-ekonomija ċirkolari fejn ir-riżorsi jerġgħu jintużaw.
Dan l-upgrade huwa mistenni li jiżgura lill-bdiewa provvista tal-ilma li hi sostenibbli. Huwa stmat li aktar minn 350 bidwi, b’total ta’ madwar 223 ettaru addizzjonali ta’ art agrikola, se jibbenefikaw minn din l-espansjoni.
“Il-proġett huwa riflessjoni ċara tal-impenn bla waqfien tagħna lejn futur sostenibbli għal Malta, u l-investiment tagħna f’ekonomija aktar ekoloġika. L-inizjattiva tan-New Water intlaqgħet b’mod pożittiv ferm mill-bdiewa, u għalhekk irridu nkomplu nibnu fuq is-suċċess tagħha,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli stqarret li, “flimkien qed nieħdu passi kuraġġużi lejn Malta aktar ekoloġika u reżiljenti. Dan il-proġett juri l-impenn tagħna li nieħdu ħsieb il-ħtiġijiet tal-bdiewa u nissalvagwardjaw is-settur agrikolu għall-ġenerazzjonijiet li ġejjin.”
L-investiment huwa bbażat fuq erba’ pilastri: (i) it-tkabbir tal-kapaċità tal-Polishing Plant ta’ Barkat; (ii) l-applikazzjoni ta’ sistema Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) biex tforni l-ilma minn Ta’ Barkat u Sant’ Antnin lejn il-Ġibjuni ta’ Bidni, San Anard, u Xgħajra; (iii) l-estensjoni tan-netwerk tal-Lbiċ biex taċċessa żoni li qabel ma kinux moqdija biżżejjed, bħaż-Żurrieq, Ħal Safi, Marsaxlokk, iż-Żejtun, Ħal Għaxaq u l-Gudja; u (iv) l-installazzjoni ta’ booster stations u pipework.
Is-Segretarju Parlamentari Chris Bonett qal, “Għal darba oħra, bis-saħħa tal-fondi Ewropej, qed nipprovdu l-infrastruttura meħtieġa għall-iżvilupp tal-agrikultura, li huwa ta’ benefiċċju għal firxa wiesgħa ta’ operaturi f’dan is-settur rurali.”
Is-Segretarju Parlamentari Bonett spjega wkoll li dan il-proġett, appoġġat taħt il-Programm tal-EAFRD Miżura 4.3, huwa wkoll konformi mal-għanijiet tal-Pjan Strateġiku tal-CAP. B’dan il-mod ġdid ta’ kif jikseb l-ilma għall-bdiewa, il-gvern jista’ jrawwem settur agrikolu aktar reżiljenti u diversifikat filwaqt li jiżgura s-sigurtà tal-ikel fit-tul, u jsaħħaħ il-protezzjoni tal-ambjent, tal-klima u l-istruttura soċjoekonomika taż-żoni rurali.
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-WSC Karl Cilia qal, “Dan il-pjan komprensiv jimmarka kapitlu ġdid fl-impenn tagħna li nipprovdu provvista tal-ilma ġdida sostenibbli u affidabbli lill-komunitajiet tagħna. Qed nimxu mill-kliem għal azzjoni, u qed nimplimentaw teknoloġiji u infrastruttura avvanzata biex niżguraw l-immaniġġjar u l-utilizzazzjoni effiċjenti tar-riżorsi tal-ilma tagħna.”
L-investiment jinkludi l-espansjoni b’6,000 metru kubu kuljum tal-kapaċità tal-produzzjoni mill-impjant ta’ Highly Polished Tertiary Treated Effluent (HPPTW). Dan it-titjib se jeħtieġ iż-żieda ta’ żewġ sistemi ta’ Ultrafiltration/Reverse Osmosis, li kull waħda tipproduċi fluss massimu ta’ 125 metru kubu fis-siegħa. In-New Water se jiġi rimineralizzat u diżinfettat permezz ta’ sistema ta’ Advanced Oxidation.
Permezz tal-użu ta’ sistema intelliġenti ta’ dispenser elettroniku, il-WSC għandha l-għan li tnaqqas it-telf tal-ilma tul il-pumping mains.
In-netwerk se jiġi implimentat permezz ta’ trinek fil-wiċċ li jkopru 12-il kilometru, u li jiżguraw provvista tal-ilma affidabbli u sostenibbli għall-ħtiġijiet agrikoli.