€86 miljun ta’ fondi mill-UE biex tittejjeb l-infrastruttura tal-ilma u tad-drenaġġ ta’ Malta
Il-pjan ta’ investiment nazzjonali ta’ Malta biex jimmodernizza l-immaniġġjar u s-sostenibbiltà tas-settur tal-ilma u tad-drenaġġ miexi b’suċċess, b’numru ta’ proġetti issa jikkwalifikaw għal finanzjament tal-UE u finanzjament nazzjonali.
Waqt konferenza stampa mill-Ministru għall-Enerġija Dr Miriam Dalli u mill-Ministru għall-Fondi Ewropej Dr Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, il-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma ħabbret programm ta’ investiment sinifikanti għal interventi ewlenin li qed jiġu ppjanati kemm għas-sistemi tal-ilma kif ukoll għas-sistemi tad-drenaġġ.
“Qed naħdmu bla waqfien fuq pjan b’saħħtu ta’ għaxar snin li nedejna rigward investimenti strateġiċi fl-oqsma tal-ilma u tad-drenaġġ. B’dan il-mod, qed niżguraw li Malta tkun ippreparata għall-futur kemm fil-produzzjoni tal-ilma kif ukoll fit-trattament tad-drenaġġ,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Dawn il-proġetti se jżidu l-kapaċità tal-produzzjoni, itejbu l-kwalità tal-ilma, inaqqsu l-intrużjoni tal-ilma baħar, jipprevjenu milli jfur l-ilma, u jsaħħu n-netwerk tal-ilma tad-drenaġġ biex jilħaq il-livelli staġjonali u t-tkabbir demografiku. Il-pjan ta’ investiment jippromwovi wkoll żieda fil-produzzjoni tal-New Water għall-agrikoltura u l-ispazji ħodor.
Fl-intervent tiegħu, il-Ministru għall-Fondi Ewropej u l-Implimentazzjoni tal-Programm Elettorali, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, saħaq fuq l-importanza li l-pajjiż ikompli jinvesti f’infrastruttura moderna u reżiljenti tal-ilma u s-sistemi ta’ dranaġġ, bl-appoġġ dirett tal-fondi Ewropej. Huwa fakkar ukoll kif proġetti ffinanzjati mill-UE, fosthom l-ewwel reverse osmosis f’Għawdex li fetaħ erba’ snin ilu u li llum jipprovdi ilma ta’ kwalità lil eluf ta’ familji, qed jagħtu bidliet konkreti fil-kwalità tal-ħajja.
Il-Ministru tenna li dawn l-investimenti huma kruċjali biex pajjiżna jibqa’ sigur u lest għall-futur. “Il-fondi Ewropej mhux biss qed jagħtuna l-mezzi biex intejbu l-provvista tal-ilma, iżda qed isaħħu s-sigurtà nazzjonali u jagħmluna aktar reżiljenti għall-isfidi klimatiċi u ambjentali. Bħala pajjiż, irridu nibqgħu nħarsu ‘l quddiem u ninvestu f’sistemi effiċjenti u sostenibbli li jipprovdu lill-familji tagħna għal bosta snin,” qal il-Ministru Zrinzo Azzopardi.
Ix-xogħlijiet imħabbra mill-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma, Karl Cilia, jinkludu titjib sinifikanti fl-impjanti tar-reverse osmosis, billi jsaħħu l-produzzjoni, l-effiċjenza, u l-kwalità tal-ilma. Qed jiġu stabbiliti ukoll mains ġodda tal-ippumpjar u konnessjonijiet ta’ reservoirs biex tissaħħaħ ir-reżiljenza tal-provvista. F’żoni bħal Selmun, Għawdex, il-Birgu, Bormla u l-Isla, l-aġġornamenti tan-network għandhom l-għan li jnaqqsu t-tnixxija, itejbu l-kwalità tal-ilma, u jassiguraw servizz aktar affidabbli għan-nies. Il-proċessi tal-ġbir tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art qed jiġu rfinuti, u qed jiġi investit f’tagħmir ġdid tal-laboratorju biex tittejjeb aktar il-kwalità tal-ilma.
Inizjattivi ewlenin għat-trattament tal-ilma tad-drenaġġ fin-naħa ta’ fuq ta’ Malta jinsabu għaddejjin, fosthom hemm micro tunneling tal-mini, kisi ġewwa l-pajpijiet tad-drenaġġ, u tibdil tal-pajpijiet qodma. F’żoni madwar iż-Żejtun, l-Imqabba, Ħal Kirkop, iż-Żurrieq, u Birżebbuġia, qed jinbnew galleriji ġodda. L-estensjonijiet tan-network fir-Rabat u Ħad-Dingli se jgħaqqdu d-djar li bħalissa jinsabu barra n-netwerk ewlieni tad-drenaġġ, u b’hekk jespandu l-aċċess.
L-impjanti tat-trattament tal-ilma tad-drenaġġ ta’ Malta fin-naħa tat-Tramuntana u f’Għawdex qed jiġu estiżi wkoll biex jissodisfaw il-ħtiġijiet li dejjem qed jikbru.
“Il-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma għandha rekord pożittiv ħafna fir-rigward tat-twettiq ta’ proġetti kritiċi għall-pajjiżna. F’dan ir-rigward, il-ħaddiema tagħna se jwettqu dawn il-proġetti b’attenzjoni u responsabbiltà kbira. Il-pjan jirrifletti xogħol tekniku serju, snin ta’ preparazzjoni u impenn għas-sostenibbiltà fit-tul. Kull intervent jissarraf f’titjib ċar fis-servizz li nipprovdu,” qal Karl Cilia.
Il-Pjan ta’ Investiment Nazzjonali ta’ Malta għall-infrastruttura tal-ilma u tad-drenaġġ jalloka aktar minn €370 miljun bejn l-2023 u l-2033. Il-kofinanzjament tal-programm UE 21–27 jammonta għal €86 miljun. Il-Green Bonds tal-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma jikkontribwixxu €12-il miljun addizzjonali għall-istess għan.
€86 million EU funding granted to upgrade Malta’s water and wastewater infrastructure
Malta’s national investment plan to modernise the management and sustainability of the water and wastewater sector is gaining traction, with a number of projects now qualifying for EU funding and national financing.
During a press conference by Energy Minister Dr Miriam Dalli and European Funds Minister Dr Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, the Water Services Corporation announced a significant investment programme for key interventions being planned for both water and wastewater systems.
“We are working tirelessly on the ten-year strong plan that we have launched regarding strategic on investments in water and wastewater. In this manner, we are ensuring that Malta is prepared for the future in both water production and sewage treatment.” Minister Dalli said.
These projects will increase production capacity, improve water quality, reduce seawater intrusion, prevent overflows, and strengthen the wastewater network to meet seasonal peaks and demographic growth. The investment plan also promotes an increase in New Water production for agriculture and green spaces.
In his intervention, the Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, stressed the importance of the country continuing to invest in modern and resilient water and sewage infrastructure, with the direct support of European funds. He also recalled how EU-funded projects, including the first reverse osmosis in Gozo, which opened four years ago, and which today provides quality water to thousands of families, are delivering concrete changes in the quality of life.
The Minister reiterated that these investments are crucial for our country to remain safe and ready for the future. “European funds are not only giving us the means to improve water supply but are also strengthening national security and making us more resilient to climate and environmental challenges. As a country, we must continue to look ahead and invest in efficient and sustainable systems that will provide for our families for many years,” said Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi.
The works announced by WSC CEO, Karl Cilia, include significant improvements to reverse osmosis plants, boosting production, efficiency, and water quality. New pumping mains and reservoir connections are being established to strengthen supply resilience. In areas such as Selmun, Gozo, and the Three Cities, network upgrades aim to reduce leakage, improve water quality, and ensure a more reliable service. Groundwater collection processes are being refined, and new laboratory equipment is being invested into further elevate water quality.
Major wastewater initiatives in the North side of Malta are underway, featuring micro tunneling, sewer lining, the replacement of old pressure mains. In areas around Żejtun, Mqabba, Kirkop, Żurrieq, and Birżebbuġia, new galleries are being built. Network extensions in Rabat and Dingli will connect households currently outside the main sewer network, expanding access.
The Malta North and Gozo wastewater treatment plants are also being expanded to meet growing needs.
“WSC has a very positive track record when it comes to delivering critical projects. In this regard, our teams will deliver these projects with focus and responsibility. The plan reflects serious technical work, years of preparation and a commitment to long-term sustainability. Every intervention translates into a clear improvement to the service we provide,” Karl Cilia said.
Malta’s National Investment Plan for water and wastewater infrastructure allocates over €370 million between 2023 and 2033. EU 21–27 programme co-financing amounts to €86 million. The Water Services Corporation’s green bonds contribute an additional €12 million for the same purpose.