Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/269668
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2014 8 JAMES DEBONO THE sludge derived from farm waste being sent to Malta's waste treatment plant, is contributing to odour prob- lems in Xgħajra, the Water Services Corporation has admitted. During a recently held public hear- ing on a pending planning applica- tion to upgrade the plant, engineer Stefan Cachia revealed that the WSC had not expected to receive such a large amount of farm waste and that the corporation was "actually prom- ised by other relevant public institu- tions that this would not be allowed to occur." Now, existing mitigation measures and design features of the plant do not even cater for such waste flows, leading to "major intermittent fail- ures" in the system according to Cachia. Over the past months, the WSC has received various complaints about odours, mostly related to the recent drastic increase in the amount of farm waste being received at the treatment plant. The WSC is investing in a new sys- tem to minimize odours as much as possible, and holding meetings with the ministry responsible for agricul- ture to discuss the problems that it is facing on farm waste. During the meeting, Xgħajra may- or Anthony Valvo also complained that residents were facing problems with odour, noise and transport. Ac- cording to the mayor, sludge is being transported from the plant through the locality on frequent basis. He also complained that although a landscaping scheme was promised with previous applications, after four years no landscaping had yet been carried out. A resident complained that due to the odours, windows cannot be opened and residents are forced to use air conditioning during the sum- mer period. In its annual report for 2011, the Water Services Corporation said the plant was being overloaded with or- ganic pollutants from uncontrolled farm discharges. "The plant is still facing operational problems due to a significant amount of farmyard waste it receives. At times this exceeds both the plant's design and installed spare capac- ity, particularly during the summer peaks." Sludge from animal farms is be- ing deposited into the drainage sys- tem, substantially increasing sewage treatment costs for the WSC. News TMFA 002/2014 SERVICE TENDER FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND PROJECT MANAGMENT SERVICES FOR PROJECTS OVERSEAS (LIBYA—BENGHAZI & MISURATA) TMFA 005/2014 SERVICE TENDER FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES (ELECTRICAL AND/OR MECHANICAL) FOR PROJECTS OVERSEAS (LIBYA—BENGHAZI & MISURATA) GENERAL PROGRAMME SOLIDARITY & MANAGEMENT OF MIGRATION FLOWS 2007-2013 Tender is part-financed from the European Union External Border Funds (EBF) Co-financing rate: 75% EU Funds: 25% National Funds Sustainable Management of Migration Flows Staff shortages hampering air quality monitoring JAMES DEBONO THE shortage of environmental per- sonnel is hampering the country's efforts to ensure effective air quality monitoring. During a recent visit, senior Europe- an Environment Agency officials took note of chronic staff limitations in the environmental arm of Malta Environ- ment and Planning Authority, which is presently responsible for monitor- ing air quality. Various sources confirmed that the need for capacity building in the air quality sector have been evident for many years but if these staff shortages are not addressed, the present govern- ment's ambitious plans to improve air quality monitoring may not take off. In comments to the media, Minis- ter for the Environment Leo Brincat insisted that late or non-submission of data or the submission of partial results are not on. He said that without addressing such weaknesses it would be difficult to implement a robust air quality pro- gramme and action plan. According to Minister Brincat, en- hancing air quality standards and reporting lines would be a top prior- ity of the new environmental and re- source authority. But the new authority will only come in place after the announced split between MEPA's environmen- tal and planning arms and the union of the resources authority with what used to be MEPA's Environment Pro- tection Directorate. On Thursday, Brincat announced that the government will be drawing up and implementing a plan of action against air pollution. This issue was discussed in talks with Hans Emiel Aloysius Bruyn- inckx, Executive Director of the Eu- ropean Environment Agency and Barbara Clark, head of the European Environment Information and Obser- vation Network. The plan will be drafted as soon as the Environment and Resources Au- thority is set up. Farm waste odours get up Xghajra residents' noses Engineer Stefan Cachia revealed that the WSC had not expected to receive such a large amount of farm waste According to Environment Minister Leo Brincat, enhancing air quality should be a top priority