Water Services Corporation announces a significant upgrade at the Sant’Antnin Sewage Treatment Plant in the South of Malta, marking a new era in wastewater treatment technology and water resource management.
After years of diligent work and planning, the Sant’Antnin Plant, which had ceased its operations in order to carry out a comprehensive upgrade that significantly improves the efficiency and environmental sustainability of the plant, is now operating again, in a more effective and sustainable manner. The plant is now treating an additional 600m3/hour of wastewater, while using energy more efficiently.
The upgrade includes, the replacement of the ageing aeration manifolds with stainless steel to withstand the harsh conditions of wastewater, and the installation of six new, state-of-the-art magnetic bearing blowers equipped with speed drives to reduce electricity consumption.
Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Rehabilitation of the Grand Harbour, Miriam Dalli stated, “This upgrade is a pivotal step towards our commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. The improvements not only enhance the efficiency of wastewater treatment but are also in line with our national goals to significantly reduce our environmental footprint and promote a circular economy.”
The project is one of two sub-projects with a total investment of €7.5 million (VAT included), which are co-financed by the EU Cohesion Fund 2014-2020. The retrofit of the plant cost around €4.5 million (VAT included).
WSC CEO Karl Cilia commented, “The upgraded Sant’Antnin plant represents a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to innovate and improve our services. By increasing our treatment capacity and introducing cutting-edge technology, we are setting new standards in the management and recycling of water resources in Malta, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the industry.”
The project also entails installing HDPE pipes through a micro-tunnel from Barkat to Sant’Antnin. This development will primarily facilitate the efficient transfer of sewage to Sant’Antnin, and of treated water back to Barkat.
Looking ahead, Water Services Corporation is committed to investing an additional €40 million by 2027 to further improve its New Water production and distribution networks across Malta and Gozo. This ambitious plan aims to increase our production capacity to 20 million litres per day, ensuring our farmers have the resources they need to thrive and maximise the efficiency of our water resources.
Furthermore, the Sant Antnin plant is making strides with the pre-treatment of livestock farmyard waste within the same facility. This initiative is an interim measure geared toward easing pressure on the urban wastewater infrastructure before a planned complete disconnection of this waste stream from the wastewater network in the medium term. The project attenuates the load handled by the wastewater treatment facilities, which, in turn, contributes to an increased production of New Water and enhances irrigation resources for our farmers. Initially launched in Gozo, this model is now replicated at Sant’Antnin.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support as we work towards a future where New Water is distributed to the largest possible number of Maltese farmers, aligning with our mission to use our water resources efficiently.
