Athens’ water utility EYDAP has launched the first step toward a major upgrade of Psyttalia, the country’s largest wastewater treatment plant, aiming to modernize operations, reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency.
The company’s board has approved a tender to commission a preliminary study worth €9.3 million for the third phase of development, known as “Psyttalia 3,” which will set the framework for the plant’s future redesign serving the Athens metropolitan area.
The upgrade will expand treatment capabilities to remove additional pollutants, including phosphorus, microplastics, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic residues, which currently pass through conventional treatment systems.
Plans also include improving energy performance, generating on-site power to meet the plant’s needs, and exploring the reuse of treated wastewater for industrial and other applications.
“It has been 31 years since the first phase began operation and 22 years since the second phase,” said Konstantinos Vougiouklakis, general manager of sewerage at EYDAP. “We must move from advanced secondary treatment to tertiary treatment, especially under new EU requirements for energy neutrality and higher pollutant removal.”
