During the National Water Conference, the Energy and Water Agency (EWA) and Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the 5th Phase, Alter Aqua RECAP, a project aimed at enhancing Malta’s water resilience through greywater recycling for domestic use. This initiative builds on over a decade of collaboration, supported by EWA and The Coca-Cola Foundation. The MoU was signed by EWA CEO Manuel Sapiano and GWP-Med Executive Secretary Vangelis Constantianos, in the presence of Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness, Hon. Dr. Miriam Dalli, and Mr. Stephen Bonnici, Deputy General Manager, GSD.
Alter Aqua RECAP seeks to remove obstacles to scaling up greywater reuse while informing Malta’s 4th River Basin Management Plan. Since 2011, the Alter Aqua program has implemented 25 non-conventional water resource projects, primarily focused on rainwater harvesting and stormwater management. With Malta’s heavy reliance on desalination and finite groundwater reserves, the new phase will demonstrate cost-effective, decentralized greywater reuse solutions combined with rainwater harvesting.
“Over the years, the tangible integrated applications of Alter Aqua have grown alongside broader advances Malta’s water management strategy. This new phase, through Alter Aqua RECAP, is again not a standalone effort, but aims to achieve an even deeper integration of proven solutions into our national strategy”, said Manuel Sapiano, CEO of the Energy and Water Agency.
“The solutions we develop here can become blueprints for water and climate resilience, especially for islands and other water-stressed regions in the Mediterranean. By showcasing tangible examples and using them to refine non-conventional water resource strategies here in Malta, we are creating models that can be replicated across the Mediterranean” said Vangelis Contantianos, Executive Secretary, GWP-Med.
Greywater, sourced from showers and other non-toilet plumbing, requires relatively simple treatment for safe domestic use. Dr. Nikos Skondras, GWP-Med’s project manager, emphasized the challenges of affordability and public perception, highlighting the potential for reducing daily individual water consumption from 110 to 70 Liters
EWA through the Alter Aqua project has delivered transformative results, replenishing nearly 20 million Liters of water annually and benefiting over 70,000 people. The 5th Phase Alter Aqua RECAP will build on this success by integrating model applications into Malta’s national water policies. At the project’s previous phase closing event in October 2024, Ms. Sofia Kilifi, Sustainability & Community Director, Europe, reaffirmed The Coca-Cola Foundation’s ongoing support.
Alter Aqua RECAP, a 30-month project concluding in June 2027, is implemented by GWP-Med with close collaboration and financial backing from EWA, primarily funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation and facilitated by GSD, Coca-Cola’s bottler in Malta.
