Why is Spilia flooded every year?
flooding
13 Oct 2020
/ 11:55
CORFU. Corfu yet again suffered the seemingly inevitable flooding on Monday. Especially in Spilia, where the drains overflow even with less rain.
Two works that were to provide relief for the town and the economy turn into a nightmare scenario as soon as the first heavy rain falls. Corfu yet again suffered the seemingly inevitable flooding on Monday. Especially in Spilia, where the drains overflow even with less rain, let alone with the rain we had on Monday, with a volume of water officially described as one of the greatest.
The famous Haralambakis project (2000), did not solve the problem of completely separating the rainwater from the waste water in the old town and maintained the combined nature of the network, leading to an intersection with the pipe to the waste treatment plant - a problematic hub located at the Mavros Gatos. According to DEYAK, all kinds of materials build up there which are difficult to clear and when a lot of water falls it overflows onto the roads.
And as if that weren't enough, matters are made worse by the concrete blocks in the area of the small Cafe Yiali marina, which block approximately 80% of the outlets into the sea. In other words, what the Venetians had managed to achieve centuries ago was destroyed in just a short time by modern engineering!
Then on top of that came the bureaucracy to finish off, if not the work, our nerves and patience. For over 15 years there have been continuous studies into creating a bypass system so that waste water doesn't go into the marina and for emergency situations so that the pipe leading to the waste treatment plant is kept clear. At first there was a self-monitored study by DEYAK, then Corfu Port Authority delegated the study to an engineer - and then to another engineer.
Meanwhile, the Port Administration changed and now nobody knows what is happening with the study. From time to time there are announcements that the work on the marina is coming to completion - which would include a solution to the sewage problem in Spilia. But things continue as before!
The famous Haralambakis project (2000), did not solve the problem of completely separating the rainwater from the waste water in the old town and maintained the combined nature of the network, leading to an intersection with the pipe to the waste treatment plant - a problematic hub located at the Mavros Gatos. According to DEYAK, all kinds of materials build up there which are difficult to clear and when a lot of water falls it overflows onto the roads.
And as if that weren't enough, matters are made worse by the concrete blocks in the area of the small Cafe Yiali marina, which block approximately 80% of the outlets into the sea. In other words, what the Venetians had managed to achieve centuries ago was destroyed in just a short time by modern engineering!
Then on top of that came the bureaucracy to finish off, if not the work, our nerves and patience. For over 15 years there have been continuous studies into creating a bypass system so that waste water doesn't go into the marina and for emergency situations so that the pipe leading to the waste treatment plant is kept clear. At first there was a self-monitored study by DEYAK, then Corfu Port Authority delegated the study to an engineer - and then to another engineer.
Meanwhile, the Port Administration changed and now nobody knows what is happening with the study. From time to time there are announcements that the work on the marina is coming to completion - which would include a solution to the sewage problem in Spilia. But things continue as before!
