Iconic Gozo Aqueduct to be restored in €2 million project

Minister for Gozo Clint Camillieri has announced an extensive restoration project for the iconic Gozo aqueducts.

The project, which will cost an estimated €2 million, will give new life to the British-built aqueduct and will include works to consolidate its structure.

Restoration works on the aqueduct, which was built between 1839 and 1843 to bring water from Għar Ilma in Kerċem to Victoria, are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Camilleri explained that back in 2017, the restoration section within the Ministry for Gozo had made some interventions to prevent the damage accumulated over the years from getting worse.

“This much-needed restoration will begin after all the necessary studies have been completed together with the issuing of permits from competent authorities,” he said.

He added that this restoration will ensure the preservation of this piece of historical heritage and ensure that future generations will enjoy it too.

Camilleri said that the ministry is committed to preserving the cultural heritage that Gozo offers and this is being done with the necessary capital investment in various sites of historical importance.

Director for Cultural Heritage within the Ministry for Gozo John Xuereb said that the project is divided into a number of phases. He added that the first phase which involved a geological investigation of the subsoil with the main aim of understand the nature of the aqueduct foundations and to determine the composition of the underlying geological strata, has already been done.

The second phase of the project which is set to start in the coming days, will include a temporary shoring with the main arch while the third and final phase of the project will focus on the structural consolidation of the foundations together with the aqueduct conservation.

This project is being carried out by a multidisciplinary team of experts led by conservation architect Hermann Bonnici.