14 MILLION For Hydra's New Sewage System Secured

The amount of 14,333,794.83 Euros has been secured with the Ministry of Development and Investment to build a Biological Treatment System on Hydra.

This news is fantastic for Hydra. For years, this essential work on the island's wastewater/sewage treatment has been urgent. But it has taken decades of effort from previous Mayors and their administrations and the perseverance of our current Mayor and his team, to have brought it all together with an excellent result finally.

I spoke briefly this afternoon to Mr George Koukoudakis, the Mayor of Hydra. He said, "Now we can start getting tenders for the work. It will be open to many European companies to quote for the job, and the project will take decades to finish. I expect to need at least 5-6 months to get all the proposals. So the work won't start immediately."

Happily, as Mr Koukoudakis mentioned on his social media page today, he and his colleagues have also made sure that all their ducks in a row. Even though we will probably have to wait until the end of 2021 for the work to start, everything is in place for success. 

Building on the previous administration's work, Mr Koukoudakis obtained the required permit from the Archeological Service in 2016, which is always a tortuous negotiation. The Council of Ministers' final decision, handed down in March 2020, has solved the location issue, for a very fair price to the landowners.

Even amid the uncertainty and chaos of the Covid crisis and restrictions, it has been very warming and thrilling to get such fantastic news today. 

I give my congratulations and thanks to George for his determination to materialize this long dreamed of 'project' into a reality. And I appreciate the effort of all the people who have worked with the same aim for so long.

Bravo!