‘Independent Dive Inspection Confirms No Pipe Damage At Ras il-Ħobż’, Says WSC
The Water Services Corporation (WSC) has issued a statement following the circulation of footage allegedly showing a damaged wastewater outfall pipe and untreated discharge at Ras il-Ħobż, Gozo, which was shared publicly by MEP Peter Agius.
“Following the publication of this footage, WSC immediately deployed a team of professional underwater divers to inspect the outfall pipe at Ras il-Ħobż,” the Corporation stated.
“The inspection has been completed this morning. The divers found no damaged pipe. There is no broken infrastructure at this location. What is depicted in the circulated footage does not reflect the situation on site.”
Underwater footage recorded by the dive team has been attached to the press release as evidence. WSC emphasised that the origin, date, and location of the circulated footage cannot be verified. “We do not know where this footage came from,” the Corporation said.
The Corporation expressed serious concern about the use of this material in formal proceedings at the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament.
“Members of the public, the PETI Committee, and the European Commission were presented with material whose authenticity is now seriously in question,” WSC said. The Corporation noted that this is not an isolated incident and that unverified information has previously been misrepresented or distorted.
WSC also confirmed that it had extended a formal invitation to MEP Peter Agius to visit its facilities and meet management directly, but this invitation was not accepted. “We welcome scrutiny, we welcome dialogue, and we are fully prepared to present the facts to any party that wishes to engage in good faith,” the statement added.
The Corporation reaffirmed its commitment to operating Malta’s wastewater infrastructure according to Maltese and European law.
“All wastewater entering our treatment plant is treated. Our operations are subject to regulatory oversight, and we report to the Environment and Resources Authority as legally required,” WSC said.
The Corporation called on all parties to allow the facts, and the facts alone, to guide the discussion.
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