The Water Services Corporation has recently inaugurated a brand-new warehouse in Tarxien, which is proudly marking a number of firsts for the island. In fact, the warehouse symbolises the entity’s drive to be a force for sustainability in Malta.

WhosWho.mt caught up with CEO Karl Cilia, who shed light on the project, one that not only streamlines operations for the corporation but also sets an ambitious benchmark for sustainable infrastructure in Malta.

“With this flagship project, the Water Services Corporation has made a statement in favour of sustainability, as we work towards revolutionising the way we look at water generation, distribution and consumption on the island,” declares Mr Cilia.

In fact, the €7.2 million warehouse fits into the country’s broader vision for sustainability, as it concretely marks a major shift in mentality for public utilities.

“We wanted this warehouse to generate more power than it actually consumes. To achieve this goal, the building features a powerful photovoltaic system, comprising some 500 solar panels generating up to 450,000 kWh annually, which is enough to power around 100 homes. This output far exceeds the energy required to run the 2,000 square metre facility, so ultimately the building contributes towards the country’s energy generation efforts,” Mr Cilia notes.

The warehouse houses around €9 million worth of essential stock necessary for WSC’s day-to-day running, including pipes and fittings.

“By consolidating inventory in one place and under one roof, WSC has significantly reduced travel time and improved stock management, further driving operational efficiencies,” confirms Mr Cilia.

The warehouse stands atop a restored reservoir dating back to the 1980s, which now stores 6,000 cubic metres of second-class water, adding another layer of resource optimisation. These efforts tie directly into Malta’s 2050 climate targets, which were highlighted as a national priority.

“Beyond the technical merits, WSC’s warehouse embodies construction and sustainability standards designed to influence future public projects. It demonstrates how clean energy, efficient water use, and digital technologies can work together to deliver smarter, more resilient services,” Mr Cilia explains.

The warehouse is partly financed through WSC’s €25 million Green Bond, one of five environmental projects under this funding stream. To ensure transparency, WSC operates a dedicated portal where investors and the public can track spending, view project milestones, and even browse photos, all verified by Grant Thornton. This real-time window into public investment is a rare and pioneering new threshold of visibility onto open green financing.

“Looking straight ahead into the future, the warehouse will be making use of a sophisticated barcode system whereby all stock in the inventory is tracked and accounted for. The use of technology falls squarely within our vision to leverage 21st century solutions to give better value to our customers and the country at large,” Mr Cilia adds.

In fact, WSC already runs a nationwide smart grid for water supply, feeding live data into systems that spot leaks, theft, and unusual consumption patterns.

“The system, which is accurate to the tune of 90 per cent of cases, allows us to monitor consumption at a private level, identifying leakages which in turn we are happy to notify customers with, helping them save money,” Mr Cilia says.

The WSC is running a complete cultural shift in the way we see water as a resource. This was most visible in the recent campaign underlining Malta’s tap-water potability, which was only the tail-end of years of study, investment and hard work.

“This shift in the way we look at tap-water as a perfectly good option for consumption, is showing early promise, but it will take time for us to be able to call it. Still, Malta’s water remains of extremely high quality, as every last drop is rigorously tested, with the right mineral balance, often more so than bottled alternatives, saving both money and plastic waste.”

The improved and harmonised nationwide taste profile was obtained since WSC has reduced its water extraction from the water-table, bringing its dependence on the national aquifer down to only 30 per cent. This meant that water production by the reverse osmosis systems had to increase by 10 per cent. The mix today provides a uniform water taste across the island, which is guaranteed excellent quality.

“Ultimately, we want to be drivers for a change in culture. We want to see sustainability not just as a goal, but a baseline for all we do at WSC,” Mr Cilia concludes. "All this has been done within the context of a capital investment of over €150 million over the past years in improving and harmonising water quality, as part of WSC's €310 million ten-year National Investment Plan (NIP)."