Leros Approves €6.725m Desalination and Water Pipeline Project

The Municipal Committee of Leros unanimously approved the proposal of the Mayor of Leros Timotheus Kottakis for the conclusion of a programme contract between the Municipality and the Region of the South Aegean for the implementation of a project to deal with the water shortage, with a total budget of 6,725,000 euros, including VAT.

The decision was taken at the meeting of October 14, 2026 and concerns the project "Emergency infrastructure to deal with the water shortage on the island of Leros - Phase I". It includes the installation of two desalination units, the necessary accompanying infrastructure and the construction of pipelines to strengthen the water supply of the central and northern areas of the island.

According to the approved draft of the contract, the financing is expected to be covered with 4,925,000 euros from the Ministry of Environment and Energy, through a related credit to The Municipality of Leros, and with up to 1,800,000 euros from the South Aegean Region's own resources, with the possibility of inclusion in the Regional Development Programme 2026-2030.

ORSouth Aegean Regionundertakes the tendering and monitoring of the project as the implementation body, while The Municipality of Leros remains the owner of the project and the operator of the infrastructure.

In addition to the two desalination units, two seawater boreholes, seawater and potable water storage tanks, a distribution pump station, as well as a well and an undersea brine disposal pipeline are planned. The interventions also include a 630 kVA medium voltage substation and an increase in the power of the power line.

The second sub-project concerns the construction of transport pipelines for drinking water and asphalt paving of roads. The pipeline from the new desalination units to the reservoir at the "Merovigli" location is planned to serve Rachi, Patelo, part of Agia Marina, Platano, Panteli, Vromolithos, Mylos-Plakes and Kamaraki.

At the same time, a pipeline is planned from the reservoir at the "Taxiarchis" location, which is connected to "Merovigli", to the "Ankyra" area, for the water supply of the Spilia, Ankara and Agios Theologos areas.

Another pipeline is planned from the location "Paliasklupi" to the refinery in Smalo, with a branch to the location "Panagies". Through these interventions, the water supply of Parthenio, Blefoutis, Kokkalis, Agios Isidoros, Alinto, the anchorage for tourist boats, Krithoni and Drymonas is planned.

The total duration of the programming contract is set at 48 months from its signature. The schedule is divided into nine months for tendering and contracting, 24 months for construction and 15 months for project handover.

With the same decision, themayor of Leros Timotheus Kottakis, to sign the programme contract. A representative of The Municipality of Leros was also appointed to the Monitoring Committee, with Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Maravelias as his deputy.

The aim of the interventions is to deal with the water shortage, to increase the production of drinking water and to strengthen its availability on the island. The specific decision of the Municipal Committee approves the conclusion and the terms of cooperation between the Municipality and the Region, so that the implementation procedures can follow.

On the occasion of this positive development, the mayor of Leros, Timotheus Kottakis, thanked the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Papastavrou, the regional governor of South Aegean, Giorgos Hatzimarkos, the competent services of the Region, as well as all those who contributed to the promotion of the project to deal with the water shortage on the island.

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