the water cycle of the attica soil - eydap · from the marble olympic stadium kallimarmaro up to...

The watercycleof theAttica soil

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The water cycleof the Attica soil

Preface

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There is an indissoluble bond of life between man and water.Water is not only the essential commodity for man’s survivalon the planet, but also his eternal ally in his struggle for the

continuous amelioration of the quality of his life. This bond soonmade clear, that the development of a rational management systemof the water cycle is indispensable, especially in areas where thisgood had been a scarce resource.

Attica has always been an area with limited rainfall, and therefore,water resources have never been adequate. Thus, from the veryearly days, its inhabitants had to develop basic water collection anddistribution systems for the water supply of the city, which wereimproved with the passing of time and the progress of technology.Thousands of years ago, a lot of historic projects were constructedto secure the water supply, hygiene and, consequently, the high liv-ing standards of the inhabitants of Attica area. Among these proj-ects are aqueducts, fountains, wells, reservoirs, distribution

networks of the early times, and dams, water treatment plants,quality control laboratories as well as sewerage and wastewatertreatment plants, irrigation and anti-flood projects of the moremodern era.

This book turns our memory and love to those people who willinglyoffered their spirit, soul and efforts to ensure that the inhabitantsof Attica will never be in shortage of this precious good. It is de-voted to those people, whose work obtained a special interest, asthe history of Attica water was linked to the life and expansion ofa city, destined to become a fountain of knowledge and the cradleof our modern civilization.

We wish to honor those pioneers through this recording of the ex-isting historic knowledge and the photo-album representation ofmoments of their lives, acknowledging their age-long creativeroute, and their efforts filled with anguish.

Preface

The water cycle of the Attica soil

4 Water supply in Athens A historical overview

Prehistoric Times – Classical EraAccording to the Greek Mythology, Poseidon and Athena weretwo Olympian Gods who both wished to donate their name to thecity founded by Theseus on the plain of Attica. In an effort to con-vince the city on his favor, Poseidon offered the gift of water whileAthena offered the olive tree instead.

The city inhabitants rejected Poseidon’s gift and decided in favor ofAthena. Their decision infuriated Poseidon the God of Water, whofelt the value of his gift was underestimated, and so he condemnedthe city of Athens to be plagued eternally by water shortage. Thus,according to Greek Mythology, Athens «paid» and continues to«pay» dearly even today for the ingratitude it showed to the easilyoffended Olympian God.

This myth of course is only a metaphysical interpretation of the ac-tual «curse» that has threatened the lives of the citizens of Athensfor thousands of years. This myth basically illustrates how watershortage has been threatening Athenians since the ancient times.

RiversOnly two rivers throughout the Attica plain, the Ilisos and the Ki-fisos, have waterflow all year round.Although their riverbeds aredeep, their flow is very low. Iridanos, Cyclovoros, and PodoniftisRivers are more accurately described as torrents with waterflow ob-served only after periods of heavy rainfall. However, regardless thescarce water resources, the water of Athens was always of excellentquality and so, those who consumed it were known to be «of goodvoice», «with good memory» and «friendly» in general.

SpringsAncient Athens was primarily supplied with water from springs andlocal wells.

One of the most famous springs was the Spring of Kalliroi (thesource of the Ilisos River). There were many springs around the cliffsof Acropolis, such as Klepsidra, Aglavros, the springs of Asklipiosand the Erechthieda Sea.

FountainsMany springs or fountains around the city of Ancient Athens weredecorated with beautiful monuments that are famous for their artis-tic value. One of the most famous was the Eniakrounos, an artfulconstruction with nine streams of water where newlyweds reput-edly washed their hair. Other famous fountains were the Fountainof Pan, the Panopos Fountain, the fountains in the Attalos Galleryand at the foot of the Areios Pagos Hill.

WellsAs already mentioned above, local wells also played an importantrole in the water supply of Ancient Athens, some of the most fa-mous being the Wells of Freatida.

Pelasgiko Aqueduct-Theseus AqueductIn their continuous effort to satisfy demand for water, the ancientGreeks relied heavily on an intricate system of small aqueducts,which also supplied with water the many aforementioned fountains.

The oldest aqueduct on the Athenian Plain was the Pelasgiko Aque-duct that supplied the Ilisos River basin with water from the Hymet-tus Mountain. The second oldest aqueduct was constructed byTheseus, whose name it bears. This aqueduct brought water fromthe Penteli Mountain to the ancient city of Athens.

Water supply in Athens. A historical overview

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Pisistratos Aqueduct (540 B.C.)Later, between 540 - 530 B.C., Pisistratos constructed an under-ground aqueduct about 2,800 m. long that collected water fromthe Hymettus Mountain springs. Pisistratos also created the firstwater distribution network from which the famous EniakrounosFountain and others were supplied with water. Thanks to the proj-ects completed by Pisistratos, water reportedly flowed in abundanceand efficiently met the citizens’ needs.

Other aqueductsOther aqueducts that operated during these times were the Pnika,Thesian, and Loutro Aqueducts.

Water reservoirs - Rain catchment basinsIn their effort to achieve a more effective water supply system, theancient Greeks soon recognized the significance of water conser-vation to ensure water availability during times of drought. Smallreservoirs and rain catchment basins were constructed. The raincatchment basins were mainly long term underground storage fa-cilities (either natural or manmade) while the reservoirs were pri-marily short term storage facilities directly linked to the distributionnetwork. Some of the most famous reservoirs where theHamosterna and Pikrodafni Reservoirs.

Water and LawsDespite the constant threat of water shortage looming overhead,the ancient Athenians not only constructed works to ensure suffi-cient quantities of water, but also took measures to preserve waterquality and promote rational usage of the scarce resource. In thehistory of the city of Athens, the earliest recorded regulations refer-ing to water usage can be found in the Legal Code of Solon, which

remained in force for a long time despite minor changes broughtabout by Pisistratos. A special body was established at the time toensure that the regulations were enforced. All the above simply re-inforces the fact that despite the permanent threat of water short-age and the limited water abundance, local authorities secured thecity’s constant water supply through the strict enforcement of therelevant laws and rules and no major protest was ever recorded.

Hellenistic and Roman PeriodDuring the Hellenistic period (4th - 2nd B.C.), water works focusedprimarily on the effective distribution of the limited local resourceand not on methods to increase its quantity.

With the fall of Athens to Rome (1st B.C.), the city is conquered bythe Roman General Sulla and some progress in the systematic watersupply of Athens is noted. In 2nd A.D. the Roman emperor Hadrian,a great admirer of Greece, during his reign constructed significantworks among which, was the Hadrian Aqueduct and the HadrianReservoir.

Hadrian Aqueduct (134 -140 A.D.)At this point, it is worthwhile to interrupt the historical account ofevents concerning water issues and the city of Athens, in order togive a brief description of the Hadrian Aqueduct, which is withoutdoubt the first large-scale water supply project in the history of thecity. The construction of the aqueduct began in 134 A.D. and wascompleted in 140 A.D. The purpose of the project was not to supplythe ancient city of Athens with water, as many believe, but to sup-ply the Roman quarter of the city referred to as “Hadrian’s City”.The Roman quarter was located in the area where the National Gar-den and the Zapeion Area is presently situated, roughly expandingfrom the marble Olympic Stadium Kallimarmaro up to the Parlia-ment building.


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The Hadrian Aqueduct consists primarily of a 25 km long manmadeunderground tunnel constructed from solid rock by hundreds ofslaves using simple tools such as chisels and hammers. The aqueductwas designed not only to transfer water towards the city but alsoto collect it through a number of smaller catchment works alongthe way as well. These catchment works consisted of smaller scaleunderground tunnels or surface aqueducts that supplemented themain aqueduct’s supply with water from nearby local aquifers orsprings. The auxiliary catchment works and supplementary aque-duct systems collected water primarily from the areas of Halandri,Kokkinaras, Kithara, and Monomati. The Hadrian Aqueduct beganat the foot of Mount Parnitha in the area of Tatoi and carried waterby gravity to a stone reservoir on the hill of Lycabettus in the city ofAthens. This reservoir was referred to as Hadrian’s Reservoir andhad a storage capacity of 500 cubic meters of water. The HadrianAqueduct and Reservoir mainly provided water for the city ofAthens, operating without major changes up until the time of theTurkish Occupation. From this point on, the roman aqueduct andreservoir were left to deteriorate.

After the liberation of Greece from the Turks, the local authoritiesof Athens, in an effort to address the city’s water supply needs, dis-covered and reused the ancient aqueduct. The aqueduct wascleaned of debris, repaired, and put into operation again in 1840.In 1870 the remains of the Hadrian Reservoir were also uncoveredand a new reservoir was reconstructed in its place, with a storagecapacity of 2,200 cubic meters of water. The new Hadrian reservoiroperated up until 1940.

In 1922 with the huge influx of refugees from Asia Minor, Athensexperienced a sudden increase in population that had a serious ef-fect on the city’s water supply. An American Company by the nameULEN and Co was commissioned to renovate and increase the water

capacity of the Hadrian Aqueduct system, as well as to reconstructthe city’s water distribution network. In 1929 with the completionof the Marathon Dam and the Boyiati supply tunnel, the Hadrianaqueduct ceased to be the main provider of water for the city ofAthens, although it continued to be a supplementary source formany years.

Following this brief digression, regarding the history of the HadrianAqueduct, let us continue the historical retrospective of the watersupply of Athens. After the Roman times, during the Byzantine Era(324-1453 A.D.) and the subsequent period of Frankish Conquest(1205-1456 A.D), there is no mention of any major water supplyworks constructed in the city of Athens or any maintenance works.In fact, there is only historical reference on the pollution of the IlisosRiver by the Franks.

Turkish Occupation PeriodThe period of the Turkish Occupation of Athens is impoverished inachievements of civilization or works of any cultural significance orpublic works in the area of water supply for that matter. As alreadymentioned, the Hadrian Aqueduct and Reservoir, as well as a num-ber of minor aqueduct systems that operated from antiquity, wereleft to deteriorate. Only in the last decades of the Turkish Occupa-tion were the aqueducts of Haseki, Tsakoumakou, Aga, and Goudiconstructed. Up until this time, due to the lack of interest of thelocal authorities to construct any water supply works, Athenian cit-izens depended heavily on privately owned wells for drinking waterand irrigation. They also used local springs and fountains, such asthe Fountains of Aga, Boubounistra, Haseki, and Tsakoumakou.


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After the Liberation from the Turks - Modern TimesDuring the war of liberation from the Turks (1821) many water sup-ply works were destroyed by the retreating Turkish army. Hence, atthe time of the liberation of Athens in 1833 the city’s water supplyproblem was critical and demanded urgent and immediate atten-tion. The new city authorities commissioned a number of projectsto rebuild and renovate local water supply works, including theaforementioned repair and cleaning of the Hadrian Aqueduct, aswell as the construction of other smaller scale water projects. How-ever, none of the above provided a real and effective solution tothe water problem of Athens. For almost one century after theliberation of Athens, the city continued to depend on wells andother local sources for water. The 55 local public fountains thatoperated in Athens during the 19th Century were insufficient toprovide for the city’s daily needs. Water bearers made large profitsby transporting water from springs outside Athens in Kifissia andon Amarousion and selling it to city dwellers. Up until 1924, nearbysprings and the surrounding aquifer were the only sources of waterfor Athens.

In the early 1900’s, Athens’ growing population and the pressingneed for the development and expansion of the city, demanded animmediate action to be taken. Thus, in 1925, a contract was signedbetween the Greek Government, the Bank of Greece and the Amer-ican Firm ULEN and Co for the financing and construction of newwater supply works. The result of the contract was the formationof a company, «The Greek Water Company S.A.» (with the greekacronym EEY), with the sole purpose to construct and operatewater supply works for Athens. It’s first major construction wasthe Marathon Dam.

Marathon Dam and ReservoirThe first major project was the construction of the Marathon Dam(1926-1929), an arch dam with a total height of 54 m., 285 m.length and maximum water capacity of 43 mil. m3. Over 900 peo-ple were involved in the construction of the dam which is worldwideconsidered as unique, because it is entirely paneled externally withwhite Pentelikon marble.

Boyiati TunnelThe Boyiati Tunnel was constructed to transport water from theMarathon impounding reservoir to Athens. The tunnel has a lengthof 13.4 km. and over 450 people laboured for its construction. TheMarathon Dam, the Boyiati Tunnel, the Galatsi Treatment Plant andthe new water distribution networks of the cities of Athens and Pi-raeus were the first organized efforts to provide a total solution forthe city’s water supply needs.

In the years that followed (in the 1950s), other water works wereconstructed to augment the amount of water impounded in theMarathon Reservoir, such as the Aghios Thomas and KakosalesiAqueducts and the Kiourka Tunnel.

Yliki Lake and Aqueduct As Athens’ population continued to grow, the need for additionalsources of water once again became pressing. Yliki Lake in thenearby prefecture of Viotia had a significant amount of availablewater; however, pumping (through operation of submerged andon-land pumping units) was required in order to transport rawwater to Athens. It is worth noting that the central pumping stationis one of the largest in Europe. All water pumped from Lake Yliki istransported to the Marathon reservoir by the Yliki aqueduct, witha total length of 63.7 km. The maximum water capacity of Yliki is


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594 mil. m3. The Yliki pumping station and aqueduct system beganoperation in 1959 and have a nominal supply capacity of 750,000m3/ day.

From EEY and OAP to EYDAPIn 1974 the ULEN Company turned over full control of the Athenswater supply to the Greek Water Supply Company (EEY) which inturn stayed in operation up until 1980. At that time a new legisla-tion framework called for the merger of the Greek Water SupplyCompany (EEY) and the Athens Sewerage Authority (with thegreek acronym OAP), and resulted in the formation of a new waterauthority (with the greek acronym EYDAP) responsible for the op-eration of the city’s water supply and sewerage networks. Conse-quently, for the first time, water related services, activities andworks that up until then, were treated separately, were designedand developed by a single organization. As a result, a portfolio ofnew projects for the water supply and sewerage services improve-ment in the city is added to the existing infrastructure.

Mornos Dam and Reservoir - Mornos AqueductThe next new project that provided a new source of water supplyfor Athens was the damming of the Mornos River. The dam’s con-struction began in 1969, but normal operation of the Mornos Damand the new Mornos Aqueduct began in 1981. The Mornos Damis the highest earth gravity dam in Europe with a height of 126 m.The Mornos impoundment reservoir has a storage capacity of 780million m3 of water. The Mornos aqueduct that transports waterfrom the Mornos reservoir to Athens is the second longest aqueductin Europe with a total length of 192 km.

Evinos Dam and Reservoir - Diversion TunnelThe diversion of the river Evinos towards the Mornos reservoir alongwith the construction of a dam under the same name and a con-necting tunnel is another major project that contributes to thewater supply of Athens. Works on the Evinos began in 1992 andthe dam was completed in the summer of 2001. The earthen damis 124 m high, while the maximum water capacity of the reservoiris 140 million m3. The water drawn from the Evinos reservoir istransported to the Mornos reservoir through the connecting diver-sion tunnel, with a total length of 29.4 km. The construction ofthe tunnel was completed in less than two years time, which con-stitutes a world class achievement in the field of construction oflong distance tunnels. The Evinos reservoir supplies Athens with amean of approximately 220 million m3 of water per year.

Connecting AqueductsThe Mornos and Yliki Aqueducts are joined by a system of connect-ing aqueducts that provide alternative route supply schemes for theworks maintenance and repair needs. Moreover, the network ofconnecting aqueducts also offers EYDAP greater overall control andwater resource management capability according to the hydrolog-ical circumstances and the respective consumption needs.

EYDAP Water Treatment PlantsVia the Mornos, Yliki and connecting aqueducts (with a total com-bined length of 500 km.) raw water is transported from varioussources to the four drinking water treatment plants in the Athensarea: Galatsi, Polydendri, Acharnes, and Aspropirgos. The fourwater treatment plants have a total capacity of 1.9 million m3 ofwater per day.


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Treatment and Distribution of Drinking WaterRaw water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation and filtrationand is finally disinfected with chlorination. Athens’s drinking wateris of excellent quality and is considered to be one of the best in Eu-rope. Drinking water is transported from the four treatment plantsto the storage reservoirs and tanks located throughout the city.From the storage reservoirs water reaches the consumers throughan extensive distribution network with an estimated total lengthof 9,500 km, which is constantly expanding and being restored.

Quality of drinking waterThe water offered by EYDAP for consumption is potable and safe,ranking its quality in top levels and among the best in Europe. Thequality achieved is, on the one hand a result of the treatmentprocess taking place in the Water Treatment Plants of EYDAP, andon the other hand assured by dozens of quality control parametersfor both raw and treated water, on a daily basis.

All the required from greek and european legislation quality param-eter tests are performed in raw and treated water daily to ensureits optimum quality. The samples obtained from all installation parts,i.e: raw and treated water reservoirs and the distribution networkare tested in the chemical and biological laboratories of EYDAP.These tests are conducted on a daily basis at the chemical and bio-logical laboratories of EYDAP.

The value of water as nature’s gift to man is priceless. Its storage inmanmade impounding reservoirs, its transport, treatment, and dis-tribution involve huge amounts of money, with even more beingspent on new works and daily operation costs. That is why potablewater is a valued commodity that is bought and sold. This systemensures the uninterrupted supply of this valuable resource and theconstant improvement of all processes associated with its journeyfrom the source to the tap of our home.


10 Sewerage in Athens A historical overview

From Ancient Times until the Turkish Occu-pation PeriodIn ancient times, there was no organized sewerage network in thecity of Athens. The first references to mixed-flow networks (forboth rainwater and raw sewage), are recorded in 500 B.C., likeIridanos sewer, which along with the Central sewer, were servicingthe areas of Ancient Market (Agora), Areios Pagos and Pnyka. Thestagnant waters, due to these open sewerage systems, were sourcesof serious diseases and illnesses, such as cholera, plague, etc.

This practice was followed for almost 15 centuries, and was grad-ually abandoned in favor of the use and complete spread of a chan-neling system of waste to septic drain tanks. When the tanksreached their saturation point, either a second tank was made, orthe waste was collected and discharged again in open recipients(torrents, streams). Naturally, this technique did not ward off eitherthe threats to the public health or the pollution of the environment(contamination of underground aquifers ).

Modern Times (since 1830)Around 1840, for the first time in the Greek State’s modern history,a mixed-flow system for the collection and channeling of rain-water and raw sewage was constructed, along Kolokotroni,Ermou, and Ayiou Markou streets, as well as along Adrianou street,towards Thissio Area, both using as recipient a stream in the areaof Kerameikos.

In the same period (1858), the decision to cover the stream existingalong Stadiou Street, from Syntagma to Omonoia, was made. Amixed-flow main along Stadiou Street was constructed by aFrench group for Public Works. The same group proceeded with theconstruction of the sewerage networks (mixed-flow) along otherstreets in the old city of Athens.

The above main network of mixed-flow collectors was completedwith the development of secondary networks along various streetsin the center of Athens, thus realizing, for the first time, a basicsewerage network. The wastewater collected through this networkwas channeled via the Main Sewer in the open field, and into thestream of Profitis Daniel.

Until 1893, the total length of mixed-flow network was approxi-mately 11.5 km long, while the urban development, at that time,required a networks 90 km long. This meant that only 12% of theold city of Athens was serviced, while the actual need was eighttimes larger.

In 1929, the Greek government invited G. Fandoli, Italian professorof hydraulics, who, after examining the sewerage problem ofAthens, suggested the construction of a composite sewerage sys-tem, consisting of a mixed-flow system for the west part of the city(Kifissos Basin) and a separate system for the east part, with the fu-ture collector ending at the tip of Piraeus Peninsula, at Akrokeramos.

In 1931, the «Societé Anonyme for the Construction of Sewers inAthens and the Suburbs» was established, and despite the breakingout of the World War II, it drew up the final designs for the con-struction of the basic infrastructure projects, based on the prelimi-nary studies by Fandoli. One of these was the study for the MainInterceptor Sewer (greek acronym KAA), whose constructionbegan in 1954 and ended in 1959. Rainwater and raw sewage, col-lected by the multi-flow system, through the KAA, running fromthe end of Patission Street to Akrokeramos at Keratsini, where itwas discharged into the sea. During this period, namely in the1950s and till the early 1960’s, the construction company YDREXcarried out the design and construction of the Athens seweragenetwork.

Sewerage in Athens. A historical overview

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Sewerage Organization of the Capital(1960-1980)However, the urgent need for the planning and construction oflarge scale sewerage projects, led to the founding of the SewerageOrganization of the Capital (greek acronym OAP), in the 1960s.OAP became the first well-organized company responsible for un-dertaking the design, construction, maintenance, operation, andexploitation of the Athens sewerage and rainwater network.

In 1963, OAP submitted a preliminary design for the sewerageof a 200,000,000 m2 area in Athens, providing for a separate sys-tem, beyond the center of the city. During the 1960s and 1970s,the Athens sewerage networks were developed on the basis of thisdesign.

With OAP in charge, basic infrastructure projects for the sewage ofthe city were completed, such as the construction of the CoastalCollector along the coast of Saronikos. The pipe runs from thearea of Varkiza to the area of Amphithea.

At this point, it should be clarified, that all the main collectors ofthe Attiki Basin run through areas, where the natural gradient sus-tains the gravity flow of the wastewater. The sole exception is theCoastal Collector, which cannot operate as a gravity sewer, due toits location in low altitude areas. For this reason, a series of pump-ing stations was constructed, which elevate wastewater to gravitysewer sections, bringing it finally to Akrokeramos.

At the same period, the Collector of Raw Sewage along KifissosRiver, was developed. This Collector runs from KAA at Rendis Area(south of Athens), to Ekali (north of Athens).

Up to 1980 when the operation of OAP was terminated, a total of1,700 km long sewerage network and 300 km long of stormwatercollectors was constructed. This meant, that the sewerage network

covered 55% of the Capital’s needs, while the rainwater networkcovered 10% approximately.

Founding of EYDAP (1980)In 1980, the responsibilities of OAP were transferred to a new jointorganization for both water supply and sewerage requirements ofAthens, called EYDAP.

In the sewerage sector, this new organization, undertook the dis-posal of wastewater and industrial waste. Its duty was also to mon-itor the wastewater treatment procedure and its final discharge intothe sea.

In the 1980s, one more main collector of a large diameter, the Sup-plementary Main Interceptor Sewer (greek acronym SKAA), wasadded to the existing sewerage network of Athens. This collector,begins from KAA at Rendis Area, to discharge at Akrokeramos.

In the years that followed, EYDAP expanded the primary sewer net-work of Athens, including collectors of large diameter. Hundreds ofthousands of meters of these collectors run underneath large roadsand avenues in the city, and terminate at KAA. The construction ofthe secondary sewer network, consisting of smaller diameter pipes,is undertaken by the Municipalities. This network is finally con-nected to the primary pipes and the main collectors. The Munici-palities also carry out the construction of the connection of thehouses to the local network (branching).

The local secondary networks constructed by the Municipalities, fol-lowing a scheduled procedure, became part of the entire system ofsewerage administration, owned and managed by EYDAP. Today,the sewerage networks of approximately 65 Municipalities areowned by EYDAP. Since 1999, EYDAP has no jurisdiction for theconstruction and maintenance of the Athens rainwater network,except for the part of the combined network extended in areas of


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central Athens, the length of which is approximately 80 km.

Apart from network construction, EYDAP is concurrently involvedin the thorough and efficient operation and management of thesystem with regular maintenance and immediate repair in cases offailures. EYDAP uses high technology control systems, such ascameras for the monitoring of the sewage pipes, by which damagescan be controlled, located and repaired.

Metamorphosi and Psyttalia WastewaterTreatment PlantsThe application of anti-pollution technology with the operation ofthe two Centers for the wastewater treatment constitutes the laststage in the sewage management cycle in Athens. For decades,wastewater of the Athens Basin was dispelled at Akrokeramosstraight into Saronikos Gulf, without any prior treatment, thus pol-luting the Gulf and degrading its ecological balance.

The two Centers for the wastewater treatment of EYDAP have beenoperating since 1994 in Psyttalia and 1985 in Metamorphosi. There,the wastewater of the capital is collected and undergoes treatmentbefore being discharged into the environment, harmless and safefor the balance of the ecosystem. An almost complete -up to 95%-removal of the wastewater BOD load is achieved at both waste-water treatment plants. In other words, the water resulting fromthe waste treatment is almost completely clean.

The wastewater sludge resulting from the sewage treatment inPsyttalia undergoes treatment at the Sludge Thermal Drying Unitoperating since June 2007. The final product is forwarded for en-ergy cogeneration in other industry sectors, for example concreteproduction. Meanwhile, the design study for the construction of aunit exploiting the sludge’s energy in situ is under way.

Sewerage of Thriassion PedioEYDAP S.A. has undertaken the construction and operation of theproject «Main Wastewater Collectors and Wastewater Treatmentplant in Thriasio Pedio» in Attica Region. The purpose of the proj-ect is to upgrade the quality of life of the residents in Elefsina, As-propyrgos and Mandra - Eidollia Municipalities, to restore thebalance of the marine ecosystem at Elefsina sea and to contributeto the sustainable development in the area. The project will servethe needs of a total equivalent population of 117,000 inhabitants.

Sanitary Engineering Research and Development Center The Sanitary Engineering Research and Development Center(greek acronym KEREFYT) operates in Metamorphosis. Researchstudies on the qualitative standards and treatment processes ofwaste, under certain environmental conditions, are carried out.

Energy - Conclusion

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Alongside the main aqueducts, EYDAP constructed and oper-ates small Hydroelectric Power Plants. In these plants the hy-draulic energy of water is utilized and turned into mechanical

energy by a water turbine and then into electric energy by a gener-ator. The operation of these works ensures that the previously un-exploited hydraulic potential of the aqueducts is utilized, providingclean, environmental-friendly electric energy with no emission ofharmful pollutants. Presently, six small Hydroelectric Plants are infull operation in the geographical areas of Kirfi, Elikonas,Kitheronas, Mandra, Evinos and Kleidi.

Furthermore, on the island of Psyttalia, two Electricity and ThermalEnergy Co-production Plants are in operation, the first one utiliz-ing the biogas produced during treatment and the second one uti-lizing natural gas. The electricity produced at the biogas plant isprimarily used by the Psyttalia WWTP, however surplus electricity issold to the Operator of Electricity Market (greek acronym LAGIE).The natural gas plant covers the heat and power demands of thePsyttalia sludge drying plant.

The utilization of biogas has environmental benefits due to the ex-ploitation of a renewable energy source and the reduction of at-mospheric pollution, as well as financial benefits, such as thereduction of operation costs and profits made from the trade ofelectrical power.

Similar benefits will result from the exploitation of solar energy.EYDAP is designing the development of photovoltaic systems inselected areas on its premises.

Τhis short journey, in the history of water cycle, which, for cen-turies has quenched the thirst of the Attican soil and regener-ated all its living organisms, ends here.

However, water will and must, continue its perpetual journey, com-pleting its natural, life-giving cycle. Man, however, must understand,that the preservation and improvement of his own life, requires boththe rational management of this valuable resource and his prudentintervention in the hydrologic cycle, which is actually the very cycleof «life» itself.

ConclusionEnergy

Engraved memory

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Engraved memory

The city of Athens at the years of Emperor Andrianus. Imaginary wood-engraving, 1887


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Engraved memory

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Poseidon and Athena, The city of Athens by their feet. Copper-engraving, 1797 by J. Cronovio

Water nymphs nearby a river of Athens. Imaginary Engraving, 1840


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Engraved memory

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View of Athens from Ilissos river. Engraving, 1840 by Wolfensberger

View of Athens from Ilissos. Lithography, 1837 by G. Cochrane


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Engraved memory

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Cyclovoros stream, running where Metaxourgion Sq. is today. Engraving, 1871 by A. Loeffler

The Adrian aqueduct (the most important public work by the Roman Emperor, destroyed by Hatzi-Ali Haseki in 1778). Water-colour by Louis Francois Cassas


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Engraved memory

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Boubounistra fountain. Water-colour. 1821 by E. Dodwell

Fountain by the Forum Gate. Engraving, 1839 by Marchebeus


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Engraved memory

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Greek women by a fountain. Wood-engraving, 1858 by M.A. Bida

Reflections in black and white

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Reflections inblack and white

Disastrous Marathon flood. 1926


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Marathon Dam construction. 1928


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The Prime Minister of Greece, El. Venizelos at Marathon Dam. 1928


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Midday rest. 1927


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Marathon marble coating finishing. 1927


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Marathon construction-site after the fire. 1929


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Marathon panoramic view. 1930


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Marathon Dam overflow. 1930


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Marathon Dam inauguration. 1929


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Boyiati tunnel construction. 1927


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Boyiati tunnel inauguration. 1929


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Boyiati tunnel. 1931


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Adrian Aqueduct, construction of new water network. 1929


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Galatsi Water Treatment Plant construction. 1927


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Water Pumping Station at Galatsi Water Treatment Plant. 1930


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Water supply network construction within the city. 1932


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Fountain at the Olympian Zeus Pillars. 1935


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Andrian water reservoir in Kolonaki. 1936


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Water distribution. 1933


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Water reservoir construction in Athens. 1936


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Ditch filling up. 1935


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Pipe repair along Stadiou Avenue. 1936


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Installing water meters. 1953


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Pipe repair within the city. 1930


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Pipe repair within the city. 1936


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Work-site. 1935


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Water-meter control laboratory. 1947


70

Cast iron pipe maintenance.1951


71

Aqueduct maintenance. 1936


72

Water distribution. 1940


73

Water distribution in Athens neighbourhood. 1933


74

Well in Athens. 1938


75

Floating pumping station. 1952


76

Visit of Konstantinos Karamanlis at the Yliki Aqueduct Tunnel. 1955


77

Visit of the Prime Minister of Greece, Konstantinos Karamanlis at water supply works at Yliki. 1956


78

The Prime Minister of Greece, Konstantinos Karamanlis during the inauguration of water supply works at Yliki. 1957


79

Formwork Sewage collectors at Kaisariani. 1940


80

Sewage collectors. 1940


81

Sewage collectors. 1939


82


83

Main Interceptor Sewer inauguration. 1959

Contemporary flows

85

Contemporaryflows

Mornos man made lake. 2000


86

Mornos Dam and water Reservoir. 2000

Contemporary flows

87

Mornos Dam and Water Reservoir. 2000


88

Mornos Water Reservoir. 2000

Contemporary flows

89

Evinos Dam and Water Reservoir. 2002


90

Yliki natural lake. 2000

Contemporary flows

91



92


Contemporary flows

93

Small Hydroelectric Power Plant at Kirfi. 2007


94

Mornos - Yliki junction aqueduct. 2000

Contemporary flows

95

Marathon Water Reservoir. 2000


96

Marathon dam and Water Reservoir. 2000

Contemporary flows

97

Polydendri Water Treatment Plant. 2000


98

Galatsi Water Treatment Plant. 2000

Contemporary flows

99



100


Contemporary flows

101

Acharnes Water Treatment Plant. 2000


102

Aspropyrgos Water Treatment Plant. 2000

Contemporary flows

103

Aspropyrgos Water Treatment Plant. 2000


104

Construction of anti - flood project. 2000

Contemporary flows

105

Metamorphosis Wastewater and Septage Treatment Plant. 2000


106


Contemporary flows

107



108

Sanitary Engineering Research and Development Center (KEREFYT). 2000

Contemporary flows

109

Psyttalia Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pre-treatment at Akrokeramos. 1992


110

Contemporary flows

111

Psyttalia Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pre-treatment at Akrokeramos. 2000

Psyttalia Wastewater Treatment Plant. 2008


112

Psyttalia Wastewater Treatment Plant. 2008

Contemporary flows

113

Sludge Drying Plant at Psyttaleia. 2008


114

Mechanological Equipment at the Sludge Drying Plant at Psyttaleia. 2008

Contemporary flows

115

Mechanological Equipment at the Sludge Drying Plant at Psyttaleia. 2008


116

Psyttalia Electricity and Thermal Energy Coproduction Plant. 2001

Contemporary flows

117

Thriasio Wastewater Treatment Plant (model)


118

Thriasio Wastewater Treatment Plant. 2010

Contemporary flows

119


120 Credits

TOP MANAGEMENT, EYDAP

Public Relations and Corporate Communications Division, EYDAP

PhotographsPublic Relations and Corporate Communications Division ArchiveEngravings from the archive of Ioannis LamprouPersonal photographic archive of Adreas Smaragdis

BibliographyIoannis Lamprou, “The water treasure of the Attica soil”, Ed. Bank of AgricultureAnastasios Pappas, “Ancient Athens water supply”, Ed. El. SkepsisChr. Angelopoulos, General Director of Networks and Treatment Plants Operation,textsPublic Relations and Corporate Communications Division Archive of Corporate Brochures

the water cycle of the attica soil - eydap · from the marble olympic stadium kallimarmaro up to...

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