Imagine strolling along Sliema’s bustling promenade, the sun setting over the Mediterranean, when suddenly, the salty sea air is replaced by an unpleasant, pungent odour. This isn’t a figment of your imagination; it’s a grim reality for many who frequent our once-pristine coastline. The question on everyone’s lips: why is sewage flowing onto Sliema’s front?

Sliema’s sewage issue is far from new. Residents and tourists alike have long been complaining about the periodic overflows that turn our picturesque seaside into an unsightly and unhealthy mess. The problem is particularly acute at points like Tigne’ Point and the area around Sliema Creek.

But why is this happening? The root cause can be traced back to our aging infrastructure. Malta’s sewage system was designed decades ago to cope with a smaller population and less frequent heavy rainfall. Today, our island nation is home to over half a million people, and intense storms are becoming more common, pushing our systems to their limits.

When heavy rainwater mixes with sewage in the overloaded pipes, it causes backups and overflows. The excess liquid then finds its way into our seas, polluting our waters and posing health risks to anyone who comes into contact with it. This isn’t just an aesthetic issue; it’s a public health concern.

Local councils have been working to address the problem, installing rainwater tanks and upgrading pipes where possible. However, these are band-aid solutions at best. The real fix lies in a comprehensive overhaul of our sewage infrastructure, a task that requires significant investment and planning.

So, what can be done? The solution lies in a multi-pronged approach. We need our policymakers to prioritize the upgrade of our sewage infrastructure. We need our communities to push for sustainable urban planning that can cope with our changing climate. And we need each other to report overflows and hold our authorities accountable.

Let’s not wait for our beautiful coastline to become a dumping ground. Let’s demand action now, before the problem becomes too big to fix. After all, it’s our health, our environment, and our heritage at stake.

As Sliema resident and environmental activist, Maria Attard, puts it, “We need to stop treating our seas like a dumpster. It’s high time we invest in a future where our children can enjoy clean seas, not sewage.”