The heads of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN) and EYDAP left open the possibility of price hikes in water tariffs, possibly from next year as well, speaking yesterday at a press conference on the strategy to deal with the water shortage.
In fact, the minister Mr. Theodore Skylakakispersistently asked by journalists about the possibility of increases in water tariffs, he referred to the pending Joint Ministerial Decision (JMA) with the changes in the costing and pricing of water services, about which he had also spoken in the “OT” studio in the context of the 88th TEF. As he mentioned, the tariffs will be determined by the provider and will be controlled by the Waste, Energy and Water Regulatory Authority (RAAEF). “The ministry and the providers will not decide on the tariffs”, as he characteristically said.
According to the minister, KYA will have clear and transparent rules, as defined by the European Directive 2000/60 which requires full recovery of the cost of water services. Today, the level of cost recovery of water service providers (except for EYDAP and EYATH which have full cost recovery, according to their statement), ranges from 21% to 193%, with the unweighted average being at 83%.
In any case, the new KYA will give the possibility to set different prices per region, a tiered charge according to consumption levels with the obligation that the first level of consumption is affordable and covers the living needs of the population. At the same time, a special tariff will be provided for specific users such as public social infrastructure, vulnerable households and families with many or three children.
Charges for leaks and sea water in pools
Also, rules will be defined for the charging of invisible leaks, with the responsibilities being shared between consumers and providers, as the minister emphasized. For this reason, there will be an obligation to measure water consumption at least 3 times a year. In 2019, according to a statement by DEYA (Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Companies), the total percentage of losses ranged from 9.5%-62% with the average value being 35.6%, although in many cases there is no systematic recording of losses.
At the same time, saving policies are planned, such as the initiative for a wider use of seawater in swimming pools (where technically possible). Also, the application of measures to limit consumption, utilizing the experience from the great water shortage of 1992, is being considered, in case of upgrading the alert from “yellow” which is currently to “orange”, combined with a new communication campaign. At the same time, projects worth 400 million euros are progressing within 5 years for the optimal management of the water supply network.
Expansion of EYDAP and EYATH
The government’s reforms include creating stronger providers by reducing their number to ¼. Today there are 292 water service providers (EYDAP, EYATH, 125 DEYA, 156 Municipalities, 8 Municipal water supply associations and the Crete Development Organization), most of which are small and weak.
To strengthen them, EYDAP will be extended at least to the rest of Attica, Corinth, Boeotia and Phocis, while EYATH at least to the rest of Thessaloniki and Halkidiki. The general rule will be one water provider per regional unit on the mainland, with further mergers incentivized.
Activation of EYDAP in islands with an acute water shortage crisis
To support the arid islands and Crete, the decommissioned “EYDAP Islands” will be activated to carry out larger projects where the local provider is weak and collection is insufficient (less than 85%). In areas where there is an acute water shortage crisis (e.g. in the Cyclades), “EYDAP Islands” will assume overall responsibility. At the same time, a favorable settlement of 75% of DEYA’s debts to PPC will be foreseen, with funds from the excess revenues of electricity suppliers.
Also, planning is progressing to deal with the phenomena of acute water shortages, especially in the islands of the South Aegean (required projects per island, funding sources, construction models, operation and maintenance of projects, project implementation scheduling, with prioritization of the degree of maturity and proposals for the maturity of the remaining projects ).
Over one billion euros to shield Attica from water shortages
In order to protect the country from water scarcity, it is estimated that a total of more than 7 billion euros will be required. Of these, about one billion euros concerns projects to quench the thirst of Attica and the rest of the infrastructure throughout the country.
In particular, for the capital’s water supply, its supply sources will be expanded. Today Athens is experiencing a sharp decline in water reserves – from 1100 million m3 in October 2022 it is estimated to drop below 700 million m3 next month. In fact, in case of continued drought, the existing water reserves are enough for about four years, based on calculations made by EYDAP. The measures launched are divided into three categories:
1) Short-term measures: Activation of boreholes in Mavrosouvala and the addition of back-up boreholes in the Boiotiko Kifiss river (75 million m3/year), with the cost of the project being 2 million euros.
2) Medium-term measures: Reinforcement of the Evinos reservoir from rivers that feed the Kremasto lake (up to about 200 million square meters depending on needs). “The interconnection with the lake of Kremasto will quintuple the reserves with zero operating costs to cover most of the needs”, noted yesterday the CEO of EYDAP, Mr. Charalambos Sahinis. For this purpose, the relevant study and tender process will be launched.
The projects for the transfer of water from two tributaries (Krikelopotamos and Karpenisiotis) are divided into two phases and have a budget of 500 million euros. Their evaluation has already been completed and the preliminary study and the Environmental Impact Study will follow. Today, the inflows into the lake of Kremasto are at 3.5 billion m3 per year, and the water replenishment needs for Attica’s water supply do not exceed 1%, as mentioned by Mr. Sahinis.
The option of desalination for Attica is also being promoted as a strategic reserve or as an immediate implementation measure if necessary, while projects of 400 million euros will be implemented to improve water supply networks in order to limit leakages.
3) Long-term measures: Additional projects have been planned to strengthen the Evinos reservoir from Lake Kremaston. EYDAP will proceed to the third phase of the design, which concerns the construction of a pumping station for water and energy storage. The project, with a budget of 250 million euros, will probably proceed as a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) and will serve energy storage needs, as well as a reserve as a water reservoir.
Also, projects are being promoted for the reuse of water coming from Psittalia and Thriasio for industrial use and irrigation, as well as for the enrichment of the water table, which, however, can be implemented in a ten-year horizon as a quaternary treatment of the waters must first be launched, that is, the removal of microplastics and pharmaceutical substances as well as the construction of networks. The relevant study is in progress.
Six billion euros of investments in the rest of the country
Apart from EYDAP, the water providers throughout the country have proposed the implementation of 2,127 new projects with a budget of approximately six billion euros to deal with the water shortage. Of these 681 projects total two billion euros and another 1,446 upgrade and replacement projects amount to 3.9 billion euros. 32% of the projects concern ensuring the adequacy and quality of drinking water (water extraction, desalination projects, network extensions, etc.), 39% reducing leaks by replacing networks, 20% telemetry systems and the rest concern integrated programs that were not implemented .
Funds have been earmarked for their financing:
– about 150 million euros from the NSRF, for projects in Corinthia, Saronic, Alexandroupolis, Kassandra and Rethymno concerning water supply and sewage. About 50 million euros are directed to arid islands, mainly for new desalination projects with the pilot implementation study starting from Astypalaia, Nisyros, Symi, Kasos, Leipsos, Tilos, Halki, Kastelorizo, Agios Efstratios and Psara.
– €142.2 million from the Recovery and Resilience Fund (REF) for contracted projects.
– 80 million euros from the Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in areas with the most immediate water shortage problem for projects (e.g. network repair, separation of irrigation and water supply networks, new boreholes, desalination with priority in brackish waters, dams, telemetry and digital water meters , reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation). It concerns arid islands of the South Aegean, selected areas in the Peloponnese (e.g. Corinth and the Municipality of Velo Vochas, Ermionida, Monemvasia, etc.) and in Evia (Kymi-Aliveri), Paxos, Skopelos, selected small islands of the eastern Aegean and municipalities of Anat. of Crete as well as the municipality of Marmara-Propontis in Halkidiki
– €166 million from the Island Decarbonisation Fund (with the possibility of additional projects of up to €450 million if revenues from emissions rights increase) for water supply projects as well as “multi-purpose reservoir dams”. The multi-purpose projects will include Renewable Energy Sources (RES) power plants, desalination units, while the possibility of adding pumped storage tanks (using seawater on the arid islands) is also being investigated, so that on the one hand, the needs for the parallel coverage of water supply-irrigation needs are met, but and to limit the energy costs of desalination.
-10 million euros for desalination and dealing with emergency needs from the emission rights revenues, which are managed by the Ministry. Shipping and Islands. Politics
Funds have also been earmarked for spot funding from the Green Fund and from the “piggy bank” in which the amounts from the increase (April to October) of the Climate Crisis resilience fee for hotels, accommodation and rental properties will be collected through a platform announced by the prime minister in the TIF. At the same time, DEYA and municipalities will be given the opportunity to borrow for TAA projects.
Source: ot.gr
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