Freshwater - Outlook 2020 (Greece)

Water quality and safe sanitation is considered to be of a high priority and measures have been taken for many years to fulfil it. Considerable investments have been made, including EC co-funding (e.g. by Cohesion Fund). There is a particular challenge of fully covering the water supply needs of the small islands and remote mountainous villages.

In order to comply with the EU UWWTD Directive, at the end of 2008, 91 % of the population is expected to have wastewater treatment plants meeting the requirements of the EU UWWTD, and 88 % of this population will be served by sewerage systems.

The number of municipal wastewater treatment plants under the priorities of the EU UWWT Directive is 242 and, taking into account the smaller plants, the total number is 290 treatment plants. The responsible authorities for the operation of most treatment plants are the Municipal Services for Water Supply, whereas in cases of Psytalia (Athens) and Thessaloniki treatment plants, the responsible authorities are EYDAP and DEYATH respectively.