SPEECH BY THE HON. FRANCIS ZAMMIT DIMECH, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT AND THE FOI ? 1st February, 2001

Liquid Waste – What are your responsabilities?

All activities of man have an impact on the local and global environment. It has become increasingly important to gauge these impacts both because these impacts are becoming more and more significant and also because Man's expectations have increased more than ever before in the last ten years.

Moreover the aspect of sustainability, that is whether what we are doing today to satisfy our needs will have an impact on future generations, has become an over-riding concern. It is therefore important that all decisions are taken with an informed mind and that we continue to ask ourselves what are the responsabilities of each and everyone of us in every problem that arises.

Over the past years we have witnessed a sustained effort to upgrade and improve the sewerage system of these islands. In 1992 the Sewerage Master Plan for the Maltese Islands identified the needs and requirements in this field. This was followed by heavy investment in restructuring projects through which various problems of sewage leaks into the sea were solved. Discharges of untreated sewage into the marine environment are no longer acceptable as these not only pose a direct threat to human health and marine life but also result in visual degeneration of our seas.

The Ministry for the Environment is now embarking on a massive development project of water treatment and it is planned that in the near future all waste water produced in these islands is treated before it overflows into the sea.

During the past year the Sewerage Master Plan Implementation Unit (SMPIU), working directly under the Director General of the Works Division, proceeded with the implimentation of a series of upgrades and improvements as originally laid down in the Sewerage Master Plan for Malta and Gozo. The SMPIU has put as one of its topmost priorities the implimentation of the infrastructure necessary to bring the country in line with the Urban Waste Water treatment Directive of the European Union. The original Sewerage Master Plan was supplemented by two sub-plans for the Northern and Southern catchments respectively, such that the implimentation of the necessary infrastructure from conveyance through treatment and reuse is secured.

The Ministry for the Environment had formerly issued two tenders for the provision of consultancy services relating to the Malta, North and South catchments with the intention of setting the necessary infrastructure which includes transmission mains, pumping stations, sewage treatment plants and outfalls in the respective catchments.

For the Northern catchment, which includes Gozo, a series of alternative proposals were formulated and the resulting matrix of alternatives submitted to the Planning Authority in early 1999. The selection of the best option in now underway and an Environment Impact Assessment on the project has been commissioned. Any related permits and designs are expected to be completed by the end of 2001.

The consultancy for the South of Malta is performing on the same lines and the matrix of alternatives were submitted last December. These alternatives are now under discussion with the Planning Authority and it is expected that in similar fashion to the North area permits and designs will be completed by the end of this year.

The related infrastructure for both the North area and South area is expected to be set up and running by 2005. The combined cost of the Malta North and south plans is expected to be in the region of Lm40 million.

The SMPIU has also established the site for the construction of the sewage treatment plant in the vicinity of Ras il-'?obż sewage outfall in Gozo. A project description statement was submitted to the Planning Authority and an EIA on the project was commissioned in December of last year. The sewage treatment plant should be ready constructed by 2005. This project is expected to cost Lm2.6 million.

The ultimate aim of this programme is to make full use of wastewater as a water resource for agriculture and industry as well as to protect our marine environment. This programme will also ensure that our beaches are clean and free from any discharge.

The development of new treatment plants must be accompanied by improvements in the pumping stations upstream of the plants as well as in the quality of liquid effluents reaching such plants. Furthermore there needs to be strict enforcement of regulations prohibiting illegal dumping of industrial, agricultural and other solid waste in the sewers.

All these measures are being taken to better our environment. But are also in line with Malta's International commitments and obligations under the Barcelona Convention.

Malta is also gearing up to EU directives. During the screening process a number of potential bottlenecks, administrative and operational, were identified and have to be tackled in order to ensure that the present and future wastewater plants will prove to be effective instruments for environmental protection. This entails co-ordination between the various different bodies or interests which directly or indirectly make use of or provide services to the treatment plants.

The sewerage network is not just the Government's property to operate and maintain, but the onus is also on the general public. This includes industrial activities such as catering activities, agricultural activities, the slaughtering plants, industries and agro-industries, medical and hospital activities.

The collaboration and co-ordination between the government and the public sector is essential for the proper functioning of the Drainage Department. The Government is in duty bound to offer the best service for the operation of the necessary plant and equipment and for the maintenance of the liquid urban wastewater thus ensuring the proper functioning without any burden and inconvenience to the public. However, the public should give its assistance.

There is considerable work still to be done in the environmental field. The projects we have undertaken in the drainage section, are a milestone towards the achievement of sustainable development.