At a historic event celebrating 100 years of EYDAP, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, unveiled the ambitious “Evrytos” plan, a project designed to protect Attica from drought for the next 30 years.
The project, with a total budget of €2.5 billion, forms the cornerstone of a strategic water management plan based on seven key pillars. The main focus is the partial diversion of the Krikelotis and Karpenisiotis rivers into the Evinos reservoir, ensuring the transfer of over 200 million cubic meters of water annually without the use of pumping stations, making the project both self-sufficient and environmentally friendly.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis emphasized that “Hope is not a strategy”, highlighting the urgent need for proactive and effective action, as Attica faces a potentially severe water supply issue. The Evrytos project is seen as a natural continuation of the Marathon, Yliki, and Mornos dams, aiming to guarantee stable and predictable water supply for over 50% of the country’s population.
In parallel, EYDAP is implementing short-term measures to immediately strengthen water supply, utilizing wells in Mavrosouvala, Oungroi, and the Boeotian Kifisos, with a total capacity of approximately 150 million cubic meters annually. If necessary, two mid-term projects are also underway: a connection with desalination facilities and a land-based desalination plant, providing an additional 87.5 million cubic meters of water per year.
EYDAP President Giorgos Stergiou stressed the historical significance of the project, recalling contributions from figures such as Eleftherios Venizelos and Konstantinos Karamanlis, who established the modern water network in Athens. Additionally, EYDAP Board Member Haris Sachinis called Evrytos “Plan A”, with zero operational costs, while Psittalia 3 is highlighted as the flagship project in wastewater treatment and water recovery investments.
The strategy also includes institutional reforms, such as updating regulations for EYDAP and EYATH, introducing labor and wage flexibility, and restructuring the 110 municipal water utilities (DEYAs) not integrated into the two companies, aiming for a unified and efficient water management system.
Mitsotakis and Papastavrou emphasized that EYDAP will remain a public company, with 51% owned by the Greek State, ensuring that water remains high-quality and affordable in Europe. For the first time, the company is also entering the management of irrigation water, opening a new field of public added value with strategic importance for Greek agriculture.
The Evrytos project is expected to be completed by the first half of 2029, exactly 100 years after the completion of the Marathon Dam, laying the foundation for a sustainable and secure water supply in Attica for decades. As Sachinis stated: “We will never let Athens run out of water”, highlighting the project’s crucial role in the survival and development of the capital amid climate challenges.
Source: pagenews.gr