Another post of the Mayor of Kythera, Efstratios Harhalakis on Facebook presents an overall account of the projects of the municipal authority, focusing especially on the water supply infrastructure during his ten-year term of office from 2014 to 2024. The mayor highlights the improvement and development of many important projects, such as new boreholes, water supply networks, desalination plants, as well as the use of new technologies such as telemetry and digital water meters. Harhalakis defends his work, stressing that despite difficulties such as the economic crisis, capital controls, staff cuts and the pandemic, the municipality managed to increase the project budget to 76 million euros. He particularly emphasises the need for knowledge and planning for successful management of water resources.
His post bears strong elements of political apology, as the mayor does not hesitate to attack his political opponents, accusing them of hypocrisy and refusal to accept the election results. Read his post below:
10 years of substantial work AND in water supply!
Friends,
On September 1, 2024, that is, a few days ago, we celebrated exactly 10 years since the first day of our first day of assuming office as Municipal Authority, on 01-09-2014. During these years, during which the Kytherian People rewarded our work and our executives 2 consecutive times, dozens of projects in every field of action have been financed, completed and are in the process of completion: water supply, roads, lighting, redevelopment, buildings, daily life, waste management, maturation of major infrastructure that have been financed or are about to be financed, etc. The annual City budget we received in 2014 was barely a little over 6.5 million. Today, 10 years later, the funding of projects in our Municipality exceeds €76 million (€28 million of which is the South Department Sewerage project), an unprecedented amount not only for a Municipality like ours, but even for Municipalities with multiple populations. And all this, amidst a financial crisis and capital controls (2015-2019), freezing of municipal cash reserves, 3 years of COVID, extreme reductions in permanent staff and - most recently - constant denunciation of public services, which, in addition to the problems it creates for our already understaffed services, now borders on the bureaucratic, especially for those who stubbornly refuse to accept the recent election results. We have another 4.5 years, they will get used to it!
Today, I will focus specifically on the water supply projects that, from 2014 to date, we have funded, planned, completed or are in progress. All of these were planned in close cooperation with the Technical Service and its staff, who have an excellent knowledge of the water supply network, its problems and its needs. Because the issue of water supply requires knowledge, not theories.
These works are not window dressing, but substantial. We are accused by the opposition of not having a strategy for water sufficiency and water supply in general. And yet, without this planning, today - especially this year with the unprecedented drought - it is certain that the whole island (and its 70 settlements) would have had terrible water supply problems as early as Easter.
But it didn't, because we took care with projects, new networks, new boreholes, desalination, tank cleaning, telemetry, variations and interconnections, etc.
The problems - we won't stop saying it - were geographically limited, in areas that have had a known water supply problem for decades and which - obviously - was not created by Mr. However, in these areas, projects are already underway and others are being planned, which are sure to greatly alleviate the situation.
We should also note that, current members of the Opposition - who today seem to care about water supply - as elected officials in previous municipal terms, APPROVED most of the municipal budgets of 2015-2024, which included all of the following water supply projects, while they abstained during the adoption of the 2023 budget (we were heading for elections after all and a show is always necessary, although not necessary effective as it turned out...). What hypocrisy, then, today to appear as the honourees...
Our work in Water Supply since 01-09-2014:
1. Master Plan for water resources management. Our Municipality has a specific Business Plan on which it is proceeding, in a programmed and methodical manner, in order to mature the necessary projects. The Plan is posted on the City's website. The Plan will be updated in the coming months.
2. In-depth maintenance and renovation of all water supply infrastructure (tanks, pumping stations, boreholes) in 3 phases (total budget 350.000 €). This project greatly increased the capacity of the tanks and improved all chemical quality parameters of drinking water on the island.
3. Remote control and remote monitoring systems for water supply networks (1.981.000€/IPP Attica). Now most tanks and boreholes are monitored by the Municipality's staff via an electronic application, minimising the time needed to deal with faults, level reduction, etc. Our City has saved thousands of cubic yards of water through this project.
4. New modern digital water meters (1.750.000€ / PHILODEMOS). The “baccalistic” way of measuring and calculating water consumption has been finally stopped.
5. New water supply network of Ag. Pelagia (3.100.000€/REGION). It is the largest water supply project executed on the island in recent years. The project has not been completed, solely due to cash flow difficulties of the Region, which is financing it. It is currently under construction and work is expected to restart.
6. With the dewatering of Agia Pelagia and Diakofti (1.720.000€/REGION).Pelagia), while with the desalination of Diakofti, large quantities of water are saved from the drilling at Kokkinochorafa, which reinforce the reservoir of «Sklari» through the transfer of tanks.
7. Desalination in Kapsali, Paleopolis/Avlemonas and Antikythera (1.860.000€). The contract will be signed in September. The Paleopolis plant will solve the water supply problem in the wider area of Skliri (through a new network from the «Makronas» to the «Gonia» site for which a study has already been submitted), while the water from the desalination of Kapsali will be routed to Stavros and Kalamos (and from there to Livadi), reinforcing the whole southern part.
8. Replacement of networks - new 23.3 km of networks throughout the island (1.193.548,39€) - the project is ongoing:
New pipeline linking Petroniou Reservoir - River Reservoir (TACAN): 3740m. The river is reinforced with water directly from Petrouni.
Replacement of the old asbestos distribution pipeline from the intersection of Petroniou - Gerakarios road with Diakopoulianikon road to the River Tank: 3770m. The settlements of Vouno, Karydianika, Anjolianika, Mazzorianika, Agia Anastasia and Ag. Pelagia are supplied with water.
Replacement of part of the Petroniou Tank - Gerakarios Tank: 500m. The settlements of Gerakari, Progi, Diakopoulianika, Karavas (Pano Horio), Vouno, Agia Patricia, Karydianika, Anjolianika, Mazzorianika, Ag. Anastasia, Agios Gerasimos are served.
Replacement of the exploitation pipeline from the Plakouta, Kumelia, Cooperative to the River Tank (TACAN) wells: 755m. It concerns the smooth and uninterrupted water supply to the River.
Interconnection of the Georgas Reservoir with the Central Reservoir of Sklari (depressed pipeline): 4315m. This is the most frequently damaged section of the water supply system throughout the island. The settlements of Frilingianika, Kastrisianika, Aloisianika, Aroniadika, Gerakitianika, Vamvakaradika, Pitsinades, Kypriotianika, Dokana are served.
Replacement of the main distribution pipeline of settlements, Aroniadika - Frilingianikon - Kastrisianikon: 1900m.
Interconnection of Kontolianikon Reservoir with Agia Kyriaki water tower (depressed pipeline): 2425m. Alexandrades and Goudianika are served.
Connecting the Kontolianikon Tank - Kafina Tank (Gudianika) (depressed pipeline): 1945m. The settlements of Goudianika, Travasarianika, Skullianika are served.
Main distribution feeder pipeline from Kafinas Tank to the settlements of Goudianika - Agios Ilias - Kontolianika and from there to Livadi: 1945m.
Interconnection between the Ag. Kyriaki water tower and the Kafinas reservoir in Goudianika: 1995m.
9. Supply and operation of 5 Water Kiosks in Ag. Pelagia, Potamos, Livadi, Kapsali and Avlemonas (TRITSIS Project). The contract will be signed in September.
10. Installation and operation of descaling and dewatering filters in Kryovrisi (settlements served: Agia Pelagia).
11. Installation and operation of a 2nd filter for descaling and dewatering in Petrouni and Kryovrisi (settlements served: Ag. Pelagia, Potamos, Logothetianika, Karavas, Ag. Anastasia).
12. New water supply network from Diakopoulianika to Karavas Tank (settlements served: Karavas, Diakopoulianika).
13. Perlegianika - Durianika network replacement (settlements served: Durianika).
14. Network replacement in Vamvakaradika.
15. New water supply network from Kakavos to Vialaradika (settlements served: Vialaradika).
16. New water supply network from Levounari to Katouni.
17. New water supply network from Brogi to Diakopoulianika (settlements served: Karavas, Brogi, Diakopoulianika).
18. New wells in Skulandrianika, Kokkinochorafa, Milies, Martesakia, Petrouni, Disternia, Agriosykia, Panagia Odigitria, Keramoto and Sylakas (settlements served: Karvounades, Agios Ilias, Kontolianika, Keramoto, Pitsinianika, Chikalaria, Gudianika, Travasarianika, Skullianika, Alexandradades, Paleopolis, Avlemonas, Central Kythera, Petrouni, Gerakari, Brogi, Agia Anastasia, Potamos, Anzolianika, Karydianika, Vouno and Agia Pelagia).
19. Rehabilitation and reopening of Kalisperianakonikon well (settlements served: Drimonas).
20. Reclamation and upgrading of the Kumaros, Plakouton and Chala boreholes (settlements served: Kalamos, Livadi).
21. New water supply network from Skulandrianika to Marathea (settlements served: Karvounades, Stathianika, Agios Ilias, Kontolianika, Keramoto, Pitsinianika, Chikalaria, Gudianika, Tra-Vassarianika, Skulianika, Alexandradades).
22. Supply and installation of 5 large metal tanks in Drimonas, Kalamos, Skliri, Marathea and Antikythera (settlements served: Aroniadika, Vamvakaradika, Pitsinades, Frilingianika, Kastrisiannika, Aloysiannika, Kypriotiannika, Dokana, Fratsia, Central Island).
23. Replacement of the network in Fratzia Square on the occasion of the redevelopment project.
24. Network replacement in Slavianika on the occasion of the redevelopment project.
25. Maintenance and replacement of materials in the descaling and dewatering filters of TACAN River, Platia Ammos and Petroniou (settlements served: River, Trifillianika, Campos, Platia Ammos, Petrouni, Gerakari, Brogi, Agia Anastasia, River, Anjolianika, Karidianika, Mountain).
26. Network variations across the island and on an annual basis.
27. New water supply network in Belvedere on the occasion of the redevelopment project.
28. Replacements of valves and other materials and parts throughout the island.
29. Construction of new houses in reservoirs and pumping stations (Marathea, Drimonas, Kalamos, Chorokampos, Skliri).
30. New network from Hardy to Aloisianika (settlements served: Aloisianika).
31. New network from Kontolianika to Tsikalaria (settlements served: Kontolianika, Tsikalaria).
32. New network from Kakopetri to Kato Stratodi (settlements served: Kato Stratodi).
33. New water supply network in Kalamos.
34. Extension of the water supply network to Faro Moudari.
35. New double network from Livadi to Kaki Melissa (settlements served: Chora, Livadi).
36. New tank of 100 cubic meters in Platia Ammos.
37. New water tower in Agia Kyriaki.
38. New network from Marathea reservoir to Karvounades (settlements served: Karvounades, Stathianika, Agios Ilias, Kontolianika, Keramoto, Pitsinianika, Chikalaria, Gudianika, Travasarianika, Skoulianika, Alexandradades).
39. New network from Agia Anastasia to Agia Pelagia.
40. Water transfer - filling of tanks on a daily basis in the tanks facing sufficiency problem.
41. Water supply network in Lazarianika. It was the only settlement on the island without a water supply system.
42. Lease of a desalination plant for Antikythera for the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 with funds from the Ministry of Shipping (MPA).
43. Funding from the PIP of the Ministry of Shipping, amounting to 188.400 € for the execution of 2 important water supply projects: a) exploitation and exploitation of a new drilling in the location «Agriosykia Ag. Pelagia» and b) replacement of an old pipeline of 1550 m. from the tank of Linarovrochia to the tank of Vigla.
44. 150.000 € from the MFF of the Ministry of Public Works (2022) for: new water supply network in Pitsinianika, supply of generators for drilling and supply of pipes and pumps for water supply.
45. New water supply network in Stathianika
46. New water supply network in Paleopolis
47. Electrification of new wells at the «Disternia», «Agriosykia» and «Kokkinochorafa» sites»
48. Cleaning of the hydro-mastering in the «Corner» position. A significant amount of water was saved which enhances the needs of the settlements: Mitata, Frilingianika, Aloisianika, Aroniadika, Vamvakaradika, Pitsinades, Dokana and Kypriotianika, i.e. the most difficult water supply area of the island. If this project had not been carried out, the water supply in «Gonia» would have dried up completely by 2023.
49. 3 new water supply boreholes in Kalamos in 2023 with the Municipality's own resources (74.000€).
50. New water supply filters in Ag. Anastasia at a cost of 186.000€ (IDA) in order to permanently address the turbidity that occurred in 2023 due to the reduction of the borehole level. The project has been put out to tender.
51.3.703.775,00€ from the Recovery Fund for the completion of telemetry works in Kythira and the drilling of 13 new water supply wells (11 in Kythira and 2 in Antikythera) - the project is in progress:
(a) in the area of the Community of Potamos, the water wells at the locations of Koumelia, Moschato, Gπεδο Potamos, Plakouta and Psoma (replacement of old wells),
(b) in the area of Diakopoulianika and Petrouni of the Karava Community (replacement of old wells),
(c) in the area of Kakavos in the Community of Mitata (drilling of a new well),
(d) in the area of Milapidea of the Community of Livadi (replacement of a borehole),
(e) in the area of Kalamos in the Community of Kythera (replacement of a borehole),
(f) in the Xeroniamata area of the Community of Kythera (drilling of a new well),
(g) in the areas of Kamarella and Aspros Lakkos in Antikythera
PROGRAMMING:
1. The preparation of a major study of water supply projects with a series of sub-projects in order to obtain major funding from the Attica CIP (which will now fund projects of a holistic approach). Indicatively, the planned sub-projects are the following:
Sub-project 1: Replacement of networks - new water supply networks
Sub-project 2: Transfer of Ag. Patricia desalination water to Potamos and Karavas, Paleopolis desalination water to Gonia and Kapsali desalination water to Kalamos/Livadi
Subproject 3: New desalination plants in Diakofti, Paleopolis and Kapsali (in the same arrangement as the current ones to double the amount of water supplied on a daily basis)
Subproject 4: New water supply tanks - replacements and increase of tank volume
Sub-project 5: Replacement of obsolete water supply networks in Antikythera
Sub-project 6: Construction of irrigation networks on Kythera Island
Sub-project 7: Energy saving in the water supply system of the Municipality of Kythera
Subproject 8: Digital mapping of water supply infrastructure and networks of the Municipality of Kythera
Sub-project 9: Dams - small reservoirs
Subproject 10: Mylopotamos stream flow restoration study
2. The proper execution and commissioning of all major water supply projects that we have financed through coordinated actions (new networks, desalination, new boreholes, telemetry, etc.)
3. The continuation of cooperation with the private sector for the restoration of water supply damages
4. The use of modern ways of saving drinking water, such as moisture collection (pilot), a method successfully used in Israel
5. The adoption of sound water management policies, through the use of new technologies (e.g. reuse-cyclical use, rainwater storage, etc.)
6. Rewarding prudent consumers who adhere to basic water saving rules through the adoption of a new Water Supply Regulation
7. The implementation of water saving information actions for students and citizens
Resources are not inexhaustible. Projects need studies, approvals, permits, which take a lot of time. Projects are not done by orders or threats. They require proper planning and, above all, funding sources that are neither available nor given.
Words are lost, deeds remain!
Thank you for your support!
WE CONTINUE WITH WORK!
Happy Sunday!
