The Environment Ministry has approved 42 water-supply projects worth €75.5 million to address water shortages, including desalination plants for islands receiving them for the first time.

The approvals cover projects to create, strengthen and modernize water infrastructure affected by drought, with funding drawn from the ministry’s 2025 Sectoral Development Program.

Three islands will receive desalination units for the first time. Andros, known in antiquity as Hydrousa for its many water sources, will receive a capacity for 600 cubic meters per day. Kea will receive 200 cubic meters per day. Meganisi, which has been declared in a state of emergency due to water scarcity, will receive 600 cubic meters per day.

An additional 15 islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas will receive funding to expand their drinking-water production capacity. Four are in the Cyclades: Kythnos, Naxos, Amorgos and Folegandros. Three are in the Dodecanese: Karpathos, Leros and Patmos. Two are in the North Aegean: Chios and Fournoi. One is in the Sporades, Alonnisos. Two are in the Saronic Gulf: Spetses and Poros. And four are in the Ionian: Paxoi, Ithaca and northern Corfu.

On the mainland, desalination projects will also be funded in three areas of the Peloponnese: Ermionida, Velo-Vocha and western Mani. Drilling projects will be funded in Livadia and in four municipalities of Crete: Hersonissos, Sitia, Ierapetra and Phaistos. In the municipality of Volos, new projects will be funded to utilize water sources.

Finally, various projects to improve water-supply networks will be funded to cover Hydra, Serres, Kymi, Aktio, Pylaia, central Corfu and other areas. Many of these projects were included in a call issued by the Environment Ministry last March, but tendering and contracting had not yet proceeded.

Source: Ekathimerini.com