Within the framework of the project “AWARENESS-RAISING AND EDUCATION ACTIONS FOR THE POPULATION OF CHIOS ON THE ISSUE OF WATER SUPPLY AND WATER SCARCITY ON THE ISLAND OF CHIOS AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM”, implemented by the Institute for Sustainable Water Management and Water Law of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) and funded by the Chios Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEYA Chios), a comprehensive three-day series of activities was held on the island of Chios on the occasion of the World Water Day 2026 (March 20–22, 2026).
Student Competition: “The journey of water from the source to our home”
As part of the above project, a student competition was organized for primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary school students under the theme “The journey of water from the source to our home.” Preparation for the competition began as early as February 2026, when students were informed about the importance of water and the objectives of the initiative.
The final presentation of the students’ projects took place on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 11:00 to 14:00, at the Homerion Cultural Center of the Municipality of Chios. Students presented projects, videos, and talks on water, water scarcity, and contemporary challenges in natural resource management, highlighting the awareness and concern of the younger generation regarding an issue of major importance.
The winners were Kampochora Primary School and the 1st Experimental Junior High School of Chios, while second place was awarded to Kalamoti Junior High School and the 1st Primary School of Chios.
In their remarks, the Mayor of Chios, Mr. Ioannis Malafis and the President of DEYA Chios emphasized that the central objective of the initiative is to cultivate environmental awareness among younger generations, equipping them with the necessary tools for the rational management of water and other natural resources.
Public awareness activities in Aplotaria
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10:00 to 13:00, public awareness activities were held on the pedestrian street of Aplotaria in Chios. Representatives of EPLO and staff of DEYA Chios distributed informational material, engaged in discussions with citizens about water supply and water scarcity issues, and presented the actions being implemented to address them.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Chios, Mr. Ioannis Malafis, the Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy, Mr. Emmanouil Koutoulakis, and the Secretary General for Local Government and Decentralization of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Savvas Chionidis, confirming the importance of institutional cooperation in strengthening Chios’ water resilience.
Scientific conference on water scarcity and water resource management
On the same day at 18:00, a scientific conference was held at the Homerion Cultural Center of the Municipality of Chios under the theme: “The problem of water scarcity on the island of Chios and strategies to address it.” The discussion was moderated by journalist Mr. Konstantinos Papachlimintzos.
Speakers included the Mayor of Chios, Mr. Ioannis Malafis, the Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy, Mr. Emmanouil Koutoulakis, the Chairman of the Board of DEYA Chios, Mr. Prodromos Manolakis, the General Director of DEYA Chios, Mr. Petros Kalogerakis, the Director of Water Resources and Geothermal Energy at EAGME, Mr. Panagiotis Sambatakakis, the Professor of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Water Management and Water Law of EPLO, Mr. Ioannis Katsogiannis, the Head of the Planning, Studies and Projects Department of DEYA Chios, Mr. Dimitris Anastasiadis, Board Member of EYATH S.A., Mr. Ioannis Tsitsopoulos, the Director of ESYD, Mr. Ioannis Sitaras, and chemist Ms. Styliani Gkouzou, who also presented the results of the student competition.
During the conference, the need for immediate, coordinated, and sustainable solutions was highlighted. Particular emphasis was placed on island water resilience, the utilization of available water resources, public acceptance of wastewater reuse, innovation, and the importance of accreditation of analytical laboratories to ensure reliability of results and environmental protection.
In his remarks, the General Director of DEYA Chios, Mr. Petros Kalogerakis, stressed that effective water management requires long-term planning, consistency, cooperation, infrastructure maintenance, rational pricing, and a shift in public perception of water. The key message was that Chios’ water resilience cannot rely on fragmented actions but must be based on a stable strategy, scientific evidence, and institutional continuity.
For his part, Mr. Ioannis Katsogiannis noted that water reuse in Greece is still at an early stage and emphasized the importance of DEYA Chios’ initiative to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant and utilize treated water for irrigation, within a project expected to be completed in 2027.
Site visit to the Chios wastewater treatment plant
On Sunday, March 22, 2026, World Water Day, Mr. Ioannis Katsogiannis, together with the President of DEYA Chios, Mr. Prodromos Manolakis, and DEYA staff, visited the Chios wastewater treatment plant. During the visit, they were informed about the operation of the facility, the expansion works including tertiary treatment, and the potential for reuse of treated effluent for irrigation of nearby agricultural land.
Water reuse is expected to contribute to alleviating water scarcity for farmers, reducing groundwater extraction affected by salinization, and gradually strengthening the resilience of the region’s aquifers.
