It may be among the most popular sandy beaches in Malta, but according to an analysis report made by Prof. Victor Axiak, the head of the University of Malta’s Biology Department, Golden Bay in the northwest of the island is also the third most polluted.


The same report identifies Mgarr ix-Xini in Gozo as the cleanest, while the dirtiest is Balluta Bay in St Julian’s: an honour the same bay has enjoyed for years, most likely on account of its sewage outfall.
Choosing the five cleanest beaches on the Maltese Islands can be listed as the South of Gozo being the cleanest, Ramla l-Hamra, Marsalforn, Blue Lagoon Bay and San Niklaw Bay in Comino.
On the other end of the scale the most polluted bays are Balluta Bay, Salini, Golden Bay, Xghajra – near the pumping station – and Mistra Bay. The pumping station overlooking Xghajra bay produces a major sewage outfall of about 58,000 cubic metres every day but it is expected to be closed and replaced by a sewage treatment plant.