Ministry of Environment Approves €2 Million for Corfu Water Scarcity and Paxos Desalination
Corfu, January 19, 2026 – The Ministry of Environment and Energy has officially approved an emergency allocation of €2 million to address water scarcity issues in Corfu. This funding, promised by former Minister Mr. Skylaridis and now confirmed by the new Minister, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, will be immediately disbursed to the relevant municipalities. Furthermore, the approval includes funding for a desalination plant on the island of Paxos.
Comprehensive Water Management Initiative Across Greece
Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, has approved a total of 42 projects with a combined funding of €75,556,121.75. These projects are designated for the creation, enhancement, and modernization of water management infrastructure across Greece. The funds have been secured from the Ministry of Environment and Energy’s Sectoral Development Program 2025.
The initiative encompasses a wide range of critical actions, including the establishment and modernization of desalination units, improvements and replacements of water supply networks, and the utilization of spring water resources through pipelines and rapid filtration systems.
Addressing Water Scarcity in Island and Mainland Regions
A significant portion of these projects targets the Greek islands, particularly those severely affected by water scarcity. Islands such as Corfu, Paxos, Fournoi Korseon, Leipsoi, Meganisi, Astypalaia, Folegandros, Psara, Poros, and Alonnisos are among the beneficiaries. Additionally, mainland regions including Serres, Livadia, West Mani, Sykeon-Neapolis, Pylaia-Chortiatis, and Volos will also receive funding for crucial water infrastructure upgrades.
Detailed Breakdown of Key Projects
The approved projects include a variety of interventions tailored to the specific needs of each region. Here is a partial list of some notable projects and their allocated funding:
- Fournoi Korseon: Desalination unit with a capacity of 300m³/day – €300,000.00
- Paxos: Desalination unit with a capacity of 300m³/day – €300,000.00
- Karpathos: Three desalination units with a total capacity of 2300m³/day – €2,800,000.00
- Ithaca: Desalination unit with a capacity of 500m³/day – €330,000.00
- Kea: Desalination unit with a capacity of 200m³/day – €260,000.00
- Alonnisos: Desalination units with a total capacity of 800m³/day and a water storage tank – €780,000.00
- Leros: Desalination unit with a capacity of 1000m³/day – €1,000,000.00
- Patmos: Desalination unit with a capacity of 600m³/day – €600,000.00
- Leipsoi: Desalination unit with a capacity of 300m³/day – €300,000.00
- Meganisi: Desalination unit with a capacity of 600m³/day – €600,000.00
- Levadea: Drilling of three boreholes – €200,000.00
- Hydra: Replacement of desalination pipeline – €620,000.00
- Velos-Vochas: Water scarcity mitigation actions (water transfer pipeline and rapid filtration) – €3,100,000.00
- Naxos and Small Cyclades: Desalination unit with a capacity of 2,000m³/day – €1,800,000.00
- Poros: Two desalination units, each with a capacity of 600m³/day – €1,200,000.00
- Kymi-Aliveri: Enrichment of Aliveri’s water supply zone via a pressure pipeline (external aqueduct, etc.) – €1,750,000.00
- Spetses: Desalination unit with a capacity of 600m³/day – €500,000.00
- North Corfu: Desalination unit with a capacity of 600m³/day – €400,000.00
- Serres: Interventions to restore water supply (water treatment units, boreholes, etc.) – €2,500,000.00
- Amorgos: Improvement of water supply infrastructure (desalination, water network, pipeline, etc.) – €2,410,000.00
- Velos-Vochas: Desalination unit with a capacity of 1,000m³/day – €1,550,000.00
- Zakynthos: Replacement of water supply network – €1,999,999.72
- Hersonissos: Replacement of water supply networks and boreholes – €1,170,000.00
- Sitia: Water scarcity mitigation projects (boreholes, pipelines, etc.) – €720,000.00
- Ierapetra: Drilling of water supply boreholes, external network, etc. – €1,110,000.00
- Kythira: Interconnection networks for water supply infrastructure – €1,350,000.00
- Chios: Water scarcity mitigation projects (pipeline, desalination, etc.) – €900,000.00
- Astypalaia: Ancillary desalination projects – €250,000.00
- Folegandros: Desalination unit with a capacity of 600m³/day – €600,000.00
- Kythnos: Two desalination units, each with a capacity of 300m³/day – €500,000.00
- Psara: Storage tank with a capacity of 1,000m³ – €150,000.00
- Faistos: Strengthening of water supply infrastructure (water supply boreholes, networks, etc.) – €514,000.00
- Souli: Replacement of internal water supply network – €2,195,000.00
- Aktio-Vonitsa: Strengthening/upgrading of water supply networks and protection zones for water abstraction points – €1,000,000.00
- Filiates: Replacement of internal water supply network & maintenance of tank and pumping station – €1,200,000.00
- Alonnisos: New external and internal water supply networks – €1,103,930.00
- West Mani: Desalination unit with a capacity of 1,000m³/day – €694,400.00
- Ermionida: Desalination unit with a capacity of 1,000m³/day – €806,000.00
- Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands and South Corfu: Replacement of water pipelines – €1,599,992.03
- Andros: Desalination unit with a capacity of 600m³/day – €892,800.00
- Volos: Projects for the utilization of spring water (pipelines, rapid filtration, etc.) – €25,000,000.00
- Sykeon-Neapolis and Pylaia-Chortiatis: External water supply network – €8,500,000.00
The total investment across these 42 projects amounts to €75,556,121.75, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring sustainable water resources for communities throughout Greece.
Source: Ministry of Environment and Energy, Life News 102.9
