President inaugurates greywater recycling system in Helen Keller resource centre

The greywater recycling system installed in Hellen Keller resource centre that will enable the reuse of treated water for garden irrigation was inaugurated today by President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

The installation is part of the globally recognised Alter Aqua programme, which was introduced in 2011 in the Maltese Islands by The Coca-Cola Foundation, aiming at promoting the use of non-conventional water resources, such as rainwater harvesting, stormwater management, greywater recycling and treated wastewater reuse, as a sustainable way to increase water availability and adapt to climate change at local level.

“Thanks to the installation of this system, water is being treated and reused to also secure benefits to other parts of the centre. Indeed, alongside hydrotherapy, the centre’s gardens are receiving irrigation without placing undue stress on limited freshwater resources,” the President said..

Alter Aqua is a multi-stakeholder programme supported with an investment of more than €1 million by the Coca-Cola Foundation, as part of Coca-Cola’s global commitment to water stewardship, and co-funded with $440,000 by the ministry for Gozo. The partners of the programme include the international NGO, Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean, the ministry of Gozo and its Eco-Gozo Directorate, the Energy & Water Agency, and the Coca-Cola System in Malta). There are also the educational partners, Nature Trust Malta and the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment Culture and Sustainable Development.

“For almost six years through Alter Aqua we have succeed to positively impact the lives of 39,000 people in the Maltese Islands by collecting and reusing more than 16 million litres of water on an annual basis. We recognise that these impressive results are because of the power of collective action and collaboration of the programme’s partners. I am certain that we wouldn’t have been so successful if we didn’t have partners that share the same vision and values for building thriving and prosperous communities. We can do so much together that each of us alone,” Maria Micallef, Chief Operating Officer of GSD Marketing, said.

Since 2011, Alter Aqua has implemented significant 16 infrastructure works around Malta and Gozo. It has implemented 11 rainwater harvesting systems throughout Gozo, at public school buildings, the Gozo Experimental Farm and the Ministry for Gozo, installed four greywater recycling systems at the Gozo Football Stadium, MCAST and the Helen Keller Resource Centre and Tal-Qroqq Sports Complex’ National Swimming Pool, and reinstated a stormwater retention application at Ramla Valley in Gozo.

Alter Aqua has also invested in the education of sustainable water management to the next generation. It has educated 10,358 students on sustainable development in schools and trained 926 teachers since 2011.