A major wastewater treatment project in eastern Aigialeia, a coastal area in the Peloponnese region, remains unfinished three decades after it was first proposed, raising concerns over public health, water pollution and the sustainability of tourism in the area.
The project, designed to connect seaside communities such as Diakopto, Akrata and Aigeira to the upgraded biological treatment plant in the city of Aigio, was initially budgeted at €31.2 million but has since grown to about €60 million. Around 25% of the work remains incomplete, and no part of the eastern Aigialeia sewage network is currently operational.
The first phase of the project, launched in 2013 and completed in 2017, included the construction of major sewage collector pipelines serving settlements across both western and eastern Aigialeia, as well as 13 pumping stations west of Aigio and nine to the east. A second phase, launched in 2021 with a €33.7 million budget, included the construction of 60 kilometers (37 miles) of internal sewage networks and was expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Authorities say wastewater infrastructure is critical for protecting groundwater and coastal ecosystems, particularly in tourist areas that see tens of thousands of visitors during the summer months.
