Central Corfu Municipality requests emergency project funding from Ministry of Environment
CORFU. The request was submitted following consultations with Ministry officials, during which the situation in the Municipality and across the entire island was described. The island faced the acute problem of water scarcity this year without any alternative solution.
(Central Corfu Municipality) The Mayor of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands, Stefanos Poulimenos, is requesting funding from the Ministry of Environment's General Directorate of Water for urgent projects to address the unprecedented phenomenon of water scarcity. This issue threatens to disrupt the social and economic life of the island.
The request was submitted after discussions with Ministry officials, during which the dire situation in the Municipality and the island was outlined. This year, the island faced an acute water shortage with no alternative solutions, as repeated promises by successive governments to implement Corfu's water supply projects (including dam construction) remained unfulfilled. As a result, water infrastructure has stagnated, necessitating the declaration of a state of emergency to execute critically needed projects.
To determine these projects, a meeting was convened at Maraslio Town Hall on Wednesday, November 20, chaired by the Mayor, with the participation of President Achilleas Mazis and staff from the Inter-Municipal Water and Sewerage Authority of Corfu (DIADEYAK). The key points of the meeting are summarised as follows:
A. Boreholes and Networks
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Municipal Unit of Corfu Town (Town Water Supply System)
- Drilling of three (3) new boreholes in the Chrysida Springs area.
- Drilling of two (2) new boreholes in the "Kakotrafos" area of Gouvia.
- Drilling of one (1) new borehole and utilising three existing boreholes in the "Sgombo" area.
- Connecting boreholes to existing electricity and water supply networks.
- Replacing old perforated sections of the main pipelines in Corfu Town's water supply system.
Budget: €1,600,000
2. Municipal Unit of Achilleio (Coastal and Inland Water Supply Systems)
- Drilling one (1) borehole in the "Zougrou" area and one (1) in Pikoulatika to support the Perama and Gastouri water systems (Achilleio).
- Drilling one (1) borehole in "Agios Athanasios" to support the Kato Garouna–Agios Gordios system.
- Drilling one (1) borehole in Agioi Deka to support the Agioi Deka and Stavros communities’ systems.
- Connecting boreholes to existing electricity and water supply networks.
- Replacing old perforated sections of the main pipelines in the Gastouri community's water system.
Budget: €1,100,000
B. Desalination Units
- Procurement or leasing of two (2) desalination units with a capacity of 2,000 m³/day each for the Corfu Town water system.
- Procurement or leasing of two (2) desalination units with a capacity of 2,000 m³/day each for the coastal tourist areas of Perama and Agios Gordios in the Achilleio Municipal Unit to strengthen the existing systems.
Budget:
- Purchase: €8,000,000
- Lease: €1,800,000
The Inter-Municipal Water and Sewerage Authority of Corfu (DIADEYAK) will provide detailed data regarding the technical specifications and a breakdown of the budget for the essential interventions. These interventions are aimed at supplying water to a permanent population of 55,000 residents, which more than triples during the summer season.
Photo: Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Municipality
