Għaddej ix-xogħol fuq proġett ta’ €3 miljun biex tintemm il-ħtieġa ta’ fosos privati għar-residenti f’Wied iż-Żurrieq
Investiment ta’ €3 miljun mill-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma (WSC) qed jittrasforma l-infrastruttura tad-drenaġġ f’Wied iż-Żurrieq fil-Qrendi, billi għall-ewwel darba jgħaqqad din iż-żona man-netwerk tad-drenaġġ taż-Żurrieq.
Il-proġett se jelimina d-dipendenza li ilha teżisti fuq il-fosos privati, u b’hekk se jwassal għal titjib fl-ambjent u s-saħħa pubblika fiż-żona.
Saret żjara fuq ix-xogħlijiet li għaddejjin mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent u l-Enerġija, Miriam Dalli, flimkien mal-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-WSC Karl Cilia u membri tal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Qrendi, inkluż is-Sindku David Schembri. Matul iż-żjara ġie diskuss il-progress li qed isir fuq l-elementi differenti tal-proġett li qed javvanzaw.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli enfasizzat l-importanza usa’ tal-proġett, u ddeskrivietu bħala eżempju ċar ta’ kif l-investiment fl-infrastruttura jtejjeb direttament il-kwalità tal-ħajja filwaqt li jipproteġi l-ambjent. “Għal snin sħaħ, il-familji u n-negozji f’Wied iż-Żurrieq kellhom jiddependu fuq fosos privati, bl-inkonvenjent u r-riskji ambjentali kollha li jiġu magħhom. Dan il-proġett qed ibiddel din ir-realtà, darba għal dejjem, u juri l-impenn tagħna biex ikollna infrastruttura moderna li tissalvagwardja l-widien, l-ilma tal-pjan, u l-komunitajiet tagħna, filwaqt li nagħtu servizz aktar dinjituż u sostenibbli lir-residenti.”
Fil-qalba tal-proġett hemm ir-rising main il-ġdid, li se jippompja d-drenaġġ minn Wied iż-Żurrieq lejn iż-Żurrieq permezz ta’ żewġ pumping stations. Din il-parti tax-xogħlijiet issa waslet biex titlesta, bil-pipeline kważi kollu f’postu diġà. Il-kostruzzjoni ta’ dawn iż-żewġ stations, li huma essenzjali minħabba d-distanza u d-differenza fl-elevazzjoni bejn iż-żewġ lokalitajiet, bdiet ukoll u qed timxi ‘l quddiem skont l-iskeda tal-proġett. Fl-istess ħin, ix-xogħlijiet fuq il-gravity main, li jinvolvi l-konnessjoni inkrimentali tad-djar u t-toroq biex id-drenaġġ imur lejn l-ewwel pumping station, huma iktar minn nofshom lesti, u b’hekk qed ikun żgurat li aktar djar ikunu preparati biex jingħaqdu man-netwerk.
Il-proġett jifforma parti minn sforz nazzjonali biex intejbu s-sistemi tad-drenaġġ ta’ Malta, innaqqsu r-riskji tat-tniġġis, u niżguraw li l-komunitajiet kollha jibbenefikaw minn servizzi affidabbli u favur l-ambjent.
Ix-xogħlijiet qed isiru kemm matul il-ġurnata kif ukoll matul il-lejl, f’koordinazzjoni sħiħa mal-komunità ta’ Wied iż-Żurrieq. Ladarba jitlesta, in-netwerk tad-drenaġġ ta’ Wied iż-Żurrieq se jirrappreżenta investiment fit-tul lejn is-sostenibbiltà, u se jappoġġja kemm lir-residenti kif ukoll lill-attività ekonomika fiż-żona għad-deċenji li ġejjin.
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv Karl Cilia enfasizza li l-proġett huwa parti mill-impenn ġenerali tal-WSC li ttejjeb in-netwerk tad-drenaġġ tagħha madwar Malta u Għawdex. “Ladarba x-xogħlijiet jitlestew, il-komunità fiż-żona ta’ Wied iż-Żurrieq se tkun konnessa man-netwerk tad-drenaġġ tal-Korporazzjoni. Dan l-investiment importanti huwa parti minn diversi xogħlijiet li qed nagħmlu biex intejbu n-netwerk tad-drenaġġ tagħna, sabiex niżguraw li l-pubbliku jirċievi l-aqwa servizzi possibbli tad-drenaġġ, filwaqt li nenfasizzaw l-impenn tagħna lejn is-sostenibbiltà u l-ħarsien tal-ambjent.”
Ongoing works on a €3 million project to end the need for private cesspits for residents at Wied iż-Żurrieq
A major €3 million investment by the Water Services Corporation is transforming wastewater infrastructure in Wied iż-Żurrieq, Qrendi, by connecting the area for the first time to the Żurrieq sewage network.
The project will eliminate the long-standing reliance on cesspits for residents and businesses, delivering a significant environmental and public health improvement for the area.
The ongoing works were visited by the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Miriam Dalli, together with Water Services Corporation Chief Executive Officer Karl Cilia and members of the Qrendi Local Council, including Mayor David Schembri. During the visit, the minister was briefed on the progress being made across the different elements of the project, which are advancing steadily.
Minister Miriam Dalli stressed the broader importance of the project, describing it as a clear example of how infrastructure investment directly improves quality of life while protecting the environment. “For years, families and businesses in Wied iz-Żurrieq had to rely on private cesspits, with all the inconvenience and environmental risks that come with them. This project is about correcting that reality once and for all. It shows our commitment to modern infrastructure that safeguards our valleys, our groundwater, and our communities, while delivering a more dignified and sustainable service to residents.”
At the heart of the project is a new rising main that will pump sewage from Wied iż-Żurrieq towards Żurrieq through two pumping stations. This section of the works is now nearing completion, with almost all of the pipeline already in place. Construction of the two pumping stations, which are essential due to the distance and elevation difference between the two localities, has also commenced and is progressing in line with project timelines. At the same time, works on the gravity main, which involves connecting households and roads incrementally and directing sewage to the first pumping station, have passed the halfway mark, ensuring that more homes are steadily being prepared for connection to the new network.
The project forms part of a wider national effort to upgrade Malta’s wastewater systems, reduce pollution risks, and ensure that all communities benefit from reliable and environmentally responsible services.
Works are being carried out throughout the day and night, in full coordination with the Wied iż-Żurrieq community. Once completed, the Wied iż-Żurrieq sewage network will represent a long-term investment in sustainability, supporting both residents and economic activity in the area for decades to come.
CEO Karl Cilia highlighted that the project was part of WSC’s overall commitment to upgrading its wastewater network across Malta and Gozo. “Once the works are complete, the community in the Wied iż-Żurrieq area will be connected to the corporation’s wastewater network. This major investment is part of our broader work on improving our sewage network, ensuring the public receives the best wastewater services possible, while underlining our drive towards sustainability and environmental stewardship.”