2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

GREECE PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Greece
Economics (2003)
GDP per capita US$13,230
GDP per capita (PPP) US$19,900
GDP in Agriculture 7%
GDP in Industry 24%
GDP in Services 69%
Water resources and management
There has been a substantial increase in water usage since the 1970s. A slight decrease in
consumption since 1992 has not been enough to alleviate the continual water shortages being
encountered. The proportion of the population connected to sewerage services increased from 0.5%
in 1980 to 10% in 1990 and to 58% by 1994. There were 26 sewage treatment works in 1988, of
which 2 serve cities with a population in excess of 100,000. The proportion of the population served
by sewage treatment has remained constant at 11% in recent years.
Population
2003 (million) 11.0
2015 (million) 11.0
Urbanisation, (2003) 61%
Urbanisation, (2015) 65%
In urban agglomerations, 2015 41%
Water services
The only water treatment takes place in Athens. Other municipalities carry out chlorination only.
Water consumption varies from 150L/day in small cities to 250-350L/day in larger cities. There was
EU funding (70%) and government funding (30%) of €3.75 billion of water and sewerage upgrading
work between 1994 and 1999.
Urban data
Served by piped water 86%
Access to sewerage 60%
With sewage treatment 30%
Development of sewage treatment
1993 1994 1997
Tertiary 3.8% 0% 9.6%
Secondary 12.7% 9% 14.2%
Primary 32.8% 1% 32.4
Sewerage only 18.2% 48% 11.6
Not connected 31.5% 42% 32.2%
56 new wastewater treatment plants are currently under construction. These units are designed to
serve a population equivalent of 1.53 million people. Another 22 are planned to serve a population of
400,000 inhabitants. By 2006, 75% of the Greek population is expected to be connected to
wastewater treatment systems. In 1998, the percentage of urban settlements served by sewerage
systems was 45%, and in 2000 increased to 64%. For settlements with p.e. >15,000 that discharge
into normal areas, the percentage has increased from 27% to 43% in 2000. This percentage has
further increased in 2001, with the total number of municipal wastewater treatment plants amounting
to 290, whereas projections show that in 2005 the number will reach 475, covering 94,8% of the
population.
102 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006