€2.5m EU-funded project aims to reduce water consumption by up to 30%
The University of Malta is to lead an EU-funded project which is projected to reduce Malta’s water consumption by about 24 to 30 per cent, incidentally the amount of water used for flushing toilets.
The project, Micro WatTS, focuses on treating and re-using greywater – the relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines and other appliances – to flush toilets. Waste water is treated by using surfaces with specially developed coatings that deploy solar energy to kill the bacteria in the water.
The Micro WatTS project is cofinanced by INTERREG VA Italia-Malta, ranking first among more than 80 proposals submitted to access the EU funds. Under the Italia-Malta Programme 20142020, 15 projects have been selected for funding, comprising of a total of 32 Maltese beneficiaries, with the funding provided amounting to nine million euros.
Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia addressed a conference, highlighting how societies in Malta and Italy would benefit from such research and innovation. The aim of the project, he noted, was to reinforce sustainable growth at the cross-border level, fostering competitiveness of SMEs and protecting the environment.
Addressing the conference, University of Malta Rector Professor Alfred Vella emphasised the inevitable increase of pressure for water availability, particularly due to the desertification process, which is “on the run, not on the move.”
“Our ability to use water resources conservatively and not waste that which can be recycled will become a matter of life and death.”
Professor Maurice Grech is the project leader, supported by Dr Stephen Abela from the Department of Metallurgy and Materials and Dr Paul Refalo from the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and also by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in Catania.
Grech emphasised that “the strength of this project is in the partnership,” with individuals working in their areas of expertise, and well within their comfort zone.
“Cross-border collaboration at this level of research will really result in innovative products and services which in the long run will reduce both the water and carbon footprint. We will be making better use of our natural resources.”
The project is expected to take three years to complete and is likely to improve overall water consumption.
Our ability to use water resources conservatively and not waste that which can be recycled will become a matter of life and death