Construction of new infrastructure and upgrading of existing facilities for better water management and reuse, replacement of worn pipes spanning hundreds of kilometers, and improved monitoring of the water supply network for immediate leak detection are included in the investment program worth 2.5 billion euros over a decade, currently underway to “fortify” Attica against acute water shortages. Given that the capital is facing its biggest crisis in the last thirty years regarding water sufficiency, with reservoir levels having dropped to dangerous levels, officials from EYDAP, in collaboration with the government, have developed a plan that will both limit wasteful water losses in the network and give new life to reclaimed water through reuse by non-domestic consumers.
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Interventions in two directions: water supply and sewerage
According to information, in the water supply sector EYDAP has budgeted investments of 730 million euros for upgrading Water Treatment Plants serving the basin, replacing 660 kilometers of pipeline network to remove outdated sections that “lose” water, and installing 2 million smart meters that allow immediate leak detection. “Every drop counts. There is no room for waste, nor can we turn a blind eye when we frequently see water losses in certain old sections of the network,” stated a source with knowledge of discussions held between the government and EYDAP over the last 12 months to find appropriate solutions.
“By reducing network losses Attica becomes more hydrologically resilient, which is critical anyway in a period when the climate is changing.” The second pillar of major interventions concerns sewerage, with investments of around 900 million euros and a focus on better secondary utilization of “used” waters from industrial units and for irrigation, without risk to public health. Of key importance on this front, according to a second source who participated in preparing the project, is expanding EYDAP’s reach to eastern Attica areas, where large settlements continue to be served by septic tanks to this day.
The plan provides for connecting 75,000 properties, meaning approximately 410,000 residents, to the sewerage network, constructing three new Wastewater Treatment Centers beyond the five already operating in Attica, as well as interventions in pumping stations. “In this way, we can use water resources cyclically and transform the sewerage system into a safe water provider for industrial or other secondary uses,” emphasized the second source, adding that this will reduce pressure on Mornos and Yliki and better protect Attica from potential fluctuations in continuous water availability.
Alert remains
In any case, however, it was noted from all sides that there is not the slightest room for complacency. “The two major reservoirs on which Athens depends, Mornos and Yliki, have lost 40% and more of their reserves in recent years, while many streams we traditionally rely on to cover losses are drying up because there isn’t much snow on the mountaintops,” underlined a third source, who has dealt extensively with the hydrological situation in the capital and with the consequences of climate change in densely populated cities. “The time has come to understand that difficult choices are required from all of us, otherwise the consequences will be even worse,” emphasized the same source.
