Action C10: Enhancing Sewer Discharge Control in Malta

The Water Services Corporation (WSC), specifically the Discharge Permitting Unit, is in charge of action C10 of the LIFE project, managed by the Energy and Water Agency. This critical action focuses on 5 different action points namely:

·        the assessment of waste water quality in the Maltese islands through sampling and testing of wastewater. This will establish a baseline of waste water quality across the Maltese Islands and identify areas of consistent lower quality.

·       Staff exchange with foreign utility to share the different methodologies applied to regulation of trade effluent discharge.

·       Procurement of various equipment including the setting up of an operational Lab, which will aid DPU’s enforcement potential;

·       Recruitment of personnel to aid in DPU’s enforcement efforts and expand its staff base;

·       Setting up of a Discharge Compliance scheme to raise awareness amongst the local industry with respect to the importance of compliance with the discharge regulations and promote those entities who have achieved compliance;

Collaboration for Better Results

The collaboration with subcontractors is crucial to the success of this action. These partners are responsible for collecting samples from various locations throughout Malta and Gozo. The collected samples undergo thorough analysis and reporting to determine the level of contamination present. Moreover, partnerships with other utilities responsible for regulating discharges into sewer will enable the DPU to expand its networking ability and potentially increase the effectiveness of the methodologies being applied.

Why This Matters

Understanding the contamination levels in our wastewater is essential for better control and enforcement of local sewer discharge regulations. By identifying contamination hotspots, we can focus our enforcement efforts more effectively, ensuring a cleaner and safer environment for all.

Looking Ahead

The data gathered through action C10 will provide invaluable insights into the real challenges within our sewer network. This information will help us enhance our regulatory framework and enforcement strategies, ultimately leading to improved water quality and environmental protection in the Maltese Islands.

Stay tuned for more updates on our progress and findings as we continue this vital work.