Wastewater Management in Greece: Towards a Circular and Sustainable Future

At the Greek Water Summit, UNESCO Chairholder Prof. Konstantinos Aravosis presented the key findings of the study on wastewater management in Greece, conducted by members and collaborators of the UNESCO Chair on Green Innovation and Circular Economy at NTUA, under his coordination, for diaNEOsis.

The study highlights a dual picture of the current situation in Greece:

• On the one hand, the country demonstrates high performance, with approximately 95% of the population connected to secondary wastewater treatment facilities.
• On the other hand, critical challenges remain, including compliance issues in specific regions, infrastructure gaps in small settlements, and the high energy cost of treatment operations.

A key focus of the study is the need to transition from a linear treatment approach to an integrated circular management model. In this context:

• Treated wastewater can significantly contribute to irrigation needs,
• Sewage sludge can be utilized for energy production, enhancing resource efficiency.

The study also identifies important policy priorities, such as:

• Administrative restructuring of Municipal Water and Sewerage Utilities (DEYAs) to achieve economies of scale,
• Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure operation and energy upgrading of treatment facilities.

Wastewater management emerges as a critical sector for:

• the sustainability of water resources,
• the resilience of the economy, and
• the transition towards a truly circular development model.