The Saronic Gulf island of Aegina, the largest isle facing the greater Athens-Piraeus region, was declared a civil protection emergency on Monday due to sudden and serious damage to an undersea freshwater pipeline that supplies the island with tap water from the mainland.
The decision by the civil protection means that the iconic island, known among others for its renowned pistachios, is declared in a state of emergency for three months until May 11, 2026. Essentially, the decision allows for accelerated administrative and financial procedures.
This decision follows a request by the island’s municipality due to the prolonged interruption – two months – of the island’s only drinking water supply source, and the serious impact this situation has on the daily lives of citizens, public health, the local economy and the operation of critical services.
Recent reports have cited the poor quality of water retrieved from drilled wells on the island.
