Malta is a semi-arid country in the heart of the Mediterranean. Water scarcity has always shaped its history. Meeting demand for homes, farms, and businesses remains one of the country’s main challenges.

This challenge has driven innovation. In the 1980s, Malta introduced sea-water desalination. Since then, continuous upgrades have made desalination the backbone of our municipal water supply. Today, it provides around 70% of the water delivered to homes and businesses, ensuring long-term sustainability.

To further protect groundwater and support agriculture, the Water Services Corporation launched the New Water Programme. This initiative produces high-quality treated water suitable for crop irrigation, landscaping, and industrial use. It aims to achieve a “net zero-impact” on the natural water cycle by replacing groundwater extraction with sustainable water reuse.

Current Production and Reach

Today, New Water production reaches 9,000 cubic metres daily at peak, supplying 1.5 to 1.6 million cubic metres annually in 2023 and 2024.


Three advanced water polishing plants upgrade treated water from Malta’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants to irrigation standards:

  • Ta’ Barkat (Xgħajra) 

  • Iċ-Ċumnija (Mellieħa) 

  • Ras il-Ħobż (Għajnsielem, Gozo) 

 

Current Network

The network now spans 70 kilometres, supplying around 2,000 hectares of registered agricultural land, including 800 hectares in Gozo.

 

 

 

New Water currently serves farmers in Mellieħa, St Paul’s Bay, Mġarr, Kalkara, Xgħajra, Marsascala, Żabbar, Żejtun, Delimara, Xewkija, Kerċem, Għarb, Rabat, St Lucia, Sannat, Nadur, and Għajnsielem.


More than 1,800 farmers are registered for New Water use.

Expansion Plans

The coming years will see major growth. By 2028, daily production is expected to exceed 20,000 cubic metres, with potential annual output between 4 and 5 million cubic metres, depending on demand and plant availability.

By 2030, the distribution network will expand by an additional 57 kilometres, including the 16-kilometre Malta Southwest extension serving Marsaxlokk, Żurrieq, Għaxaq, Gudja, and Safi. This expansion will connect a further 1,000 hectares of farmland.

 

A National Effort

According to the NSO Census of Agriculture (2020), Malta’s total arable land covers 7,800 hectares, with 5,900 hectares in Malta and 1,900 hectares in Gozo. The New Water Programme continues to strengthen this vital sector by securing a reliable and sustainable water source for the future.

 

Access and Use

New Water is available through electronic dispensers accessible via smart cards or FOBs. As of today, several dispensers operate across the islands, and their number will increase as the network expands. The system reduces the need for bowsers, improves efficiency, and ensures consistent water quality for farmers year-round.

To use them, you will need your FOB card. Watch the short video below to see how the process works, from activating the dispenser to collecting your water.

 

Watch the short video below to see how the process works, from activating the dispenser to collecting your water.

 

This project is part financed by the European Union – EAFRD funds

 

Applications for the New Water Service may be submitted as follows

Malta – New Water office at WSC , Qormi Road, Luqa – open Monday to Friday between 08.00 – 13.30

Gozo – Gozo Experimental  Farm – WSC Office in Xewkija (Triq Sannat) – open Monday to Friday between 08.00 – 13.30

 

View our Distribution points

Download New Water Application Form

Data Protection Notice – New Water

 

FAQs

  • X’inhu in-“New Water”?

    "New Water" huwa ilma ta’ kwalita' għolja li huwa prodott meta ilma tad-drenaġġ diġa imsoffi, jerġa jgħaddi minn proċessi sofistikati biex isir ilma pur.

  • X’ifisser l-użu ta’ dan l-ilma għalija?

    Dan l-ilma huwa ta kwalita’ għolja ħafna iktar mill-ilma li qiegħed jittella mill-boreholes. Bih jista jitnaqqas l-użu tal-ilma tal-pjan. Jekk tuża dan l-ilma l-uċuħ li tkabbar ser ikunu isbaħ u ta’ kwalita’ ogħla. Barra minn hekk ser tieħu aktar prodott għax-xogħol li tkun għamilt. Jekk il-hamrija tieghek fiha l-imluha, din bil-mod l-mod bl-użu ta' dan l-ilma, tissaffa mil-melħ.

  • X'inhi l-kwalita' ta' dan l-ilma?

    Il-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma (KSI) tiċċertifika li dan l-ilma jilħaq l-istandards tal-kwalita' ta' ilma reċiklat ta' Klassi A kif jidher fid-dokument fuq l-użu ta' ilma irreċiklat għall-agrikoltura kif maħruġ mill-Jojnt Research Centre (kif ikkumisjonta mill-Kumissjoni Ewropea). Barra minn dan, l-ilma kollu prodott u mqassam kif ukoll il-proċessi kollha involuti jiġu ttestjati f'kull stadju ġewwa l-laboratorju akkreditat fi ħdan il-Korporazzjoni. Madanakollu l-limiti tal-parametri li ġejjin huma garantiti kif inhu mniżżel hawn:

    BOD5 < 10mg/L TSS <10 mg/L Turbidity <5 NTU E.coli < 10 cfu/100mL jew inqas Legionella < 1000 cfu/L Barra minn hekk il-KSI tiċċekja ukoll parametri oħra li jinkludu l-imluħa (chlorides), il-konduttivita' u l-ammont ta' TDS (Total Dissolved Solids). Valuri tipici osservati matul il-monitoragg taghna kienu Chlorides < 300 mg/L Conductivity < 1000 uS/cm TDS < 800 mg/L

  • Kif nista’ napplika għal dan is-servizz?

    Niżżel il-formola mis-sit tal-KSI, imliha u ħudha l-ufficcju tan-New Water li qieghed gewwa l-Head Office, Triq Hal-Qormi, Luqa. Ahna nkunu miftuhin mit-Tnejn sal-Ġimgha bejn it-8:00 u s-13:30 (Xitwa) u mit-08:00 sa 12:00 (Sajf). Mal-formola għandek tieħu t-totali tal-art li għandek f’ismek (ċertifikat tal-ARPA), kopja tal-Karta tal-Identita’ miż-żewġ naħat. Hemm ħlas ta' €25.

  • Hemm xi data tal-gheluq sabiex tapplika għal dan is-servizz?

    Le

  • Hemm xi ħlas għal dan is-servizz?

    Bħalissa l-ħlas huwa ta €25 fis-sena. Dan il-ħlas isir mal-applikazzjoni għas-servizz jew tiġdid għand il-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma (Ħal-Luqa)

  • Minn fejn nista nieħu l-ilma tan-New Water?

    Għamel użu minn din il-mappa biex tkun taf fejn tista' tieħu n-New Water

  • Hemm xi limitu ta’ kemm nista’ nieħu?

    Il-kwota ta kemm tista tieħu new water hija dipendenti fuq il-crop plan li l-bidwi jippjana mad-dipartiment tal-agrikoltura.  Din il-kwota tiġi mdaħħla fis-sistema tal-card/FOB moghtija mill-Korporazzjoni u tiġi aġġustata wkoll skont diversi parametri, bħall-ammont ta' bdiewa li qed jieħdu n-new water f’dak il-perjodu, l-ammont ta new water li hemm fir-riserva etc.

  • Kif ser jitwassal dan l-ilma għall-għelieqi?

    Jekk għandek l-għelieqi viċin id-dispenser tagħna tista’ tagħmel pipe, jew tikri servizz ta’ bowser. Ta’ min wieħed isemmi li l-WSC bħalissa qed taħdem biex jiżdiedu sew dawn id-dispensers.

  • Se jsir xi network minn fejn jitqassam dan l-ilma sa l-għalqa tiegħi?

    Bhalissa il-korporazzjoni għandha 3 networks ta new water, wieħed fin-nofsinhar ta Malta (31 kilometru), wieħed fit-Tramuntana ta Malta (35 kilometru) u wiehed fil-gżira t'Għawdex (16 il-kilometru). Dawn in-networks jiġu mantenuti u anke mkabbrin minn żmien għal żmien. Bhalissa qed issir estensjoni lejn in-naħa tal-Lbiċ ta' Malta (Birżebbuġia, Għaxaq, Safi, Żurrieq) u numru ta' estensjonijiet oħra żgħar f’diversi lokalitajiet. It-total ta new water dispensers jaqbeż il-250 u ser ikompli jiżdied fiż-żmien li ġej.