Kouramades Residents Protest Water Shortages, Demand Immediate Action from Authorities
Corfu, June 26, 2026 – Forty-one residents of Kouramades, a community in Corfu, have formally submitted a protest to the Municipal Council regarding the chronic and inadequate water supply in their area. The residents are demanding that the issue, which has plagued their village for the past decade, be discussed in the upcoming Municipal Council meeting. The protest highlights frequent water cuts, a non-functional village reservoir, and what they describe as the persistent inaction of the Corfu Water Supply and Sewerage Company (DEYAK).
A Decade of Water Supply Problems
The residents’ letter, submitted on June 15, 2026, to the President of the Municipal Council, requests a discussion on “The Long-standing Miserable Water Supply Situation of the Local Community of Kouramades.” This serious problem has affected the villagers for the last ten years, with various excuses provided for the disruptions. These include pump failures at Agios Andreas, central pipeline malfunctions requiring week-long searches for the fault, and last July, a broken main pipeline that led to massive water wastage for days. The outdated water supply network in Kouramades, over 40 years old, also contributes to blocked pipes, exacerbating the issue.
As a result of these recurring problems, the village experiences water cuts at least twice a month, lasting for more than three days, every summer.
Non-Functional Reservoir and DEYAK’s Inaction
Adding to the residents’ frustration is the fact that since September 2024, the village’s reservoir has been out of operation due to a faulty pressure pump. This reservoir, which could supply the village with water for one to three days during central network failures and improve overall supply, remains unused. According to the residents, DEYAK has stubbornly refused to install a new pressure pump, estimated to cost between 600 and 700 euros, for over a year and a half.
Municipal Council Refuses to Address the Issue
Given these acute problems and DEYAK’s apparent disregard for their requests, the residents believed it was appropriate to raise the matter with the Municipal Council, which oversees DEYAK. However, the President of the Municipal Council, in consultation with the Mayor, arbitrarily decided that the issue was not serious enough for discussion, nor was it within the Municipal Council’s jurisdiction, referring it back to DEYAK.
The residents reminded the authorities that the Mayor also serves as the President of DEYAK, and the Deputy Mayor of Water Resources is its Vice-President. They also pointed out the inconsistency, as the Municipal Council has previously held lengthy discussions on DEYAK-related issues concerning other villages, such as the biological treatment plants in Sinarades or Benitses. The residents suggest that Kouramades, being a smaller village, may not offer the same “electoral clientele” as villages with triple or quadruple the population.
Call for Immediate Discussion and Dignified Living
The residents are calling on the President of the Municipal Council and the Mayor to bring the issue for discussion in the Municipal Council without any further delay. “We do not accept any postponement. The ‘torture of the drop’ imposed on us will not be tolerated any further. We want to live with dignity in our village,” stated Yannis Pierris, a former Municipal Councillor and the rapporteur of the protest.
The ongoing water crisis in Kouramades highlights a significant challenge for local authorities in ensuring essential services for all communities, regardless of their size or political influence.
Source: https://corfutvnews.gr/kerkyra-diamartyria-katoikon-ton-kouramadon-gia-to-nero/
