Patmos island mayor Nikitas Tsampalakis is facing criminal charges over the mismanagement of the island’s biological sewage treatment plant, which has reportedly failed to operate according to specifications for at least two years.

At the same time, the South Aegean Region is expected to impose a fine on the municipality following inspections conducted in late August, prompted by the strong stench affecting many areas of Patmos during peak tourist season. The environmental inspectors’ report is currently being finalized and will be sent to the municipality, while water sampling results are awaited to identify the cause of the “brown water” running from taps across the island.

New Membranes Cost €80,000

The chronic problems at the plant are caused by seawater entering the sewage network, which damages the plant’s bioreactors. Additionally, the subsea pipeline remains blocked by debris from a major downpour, causing stormwater and wastewater to flow into the biological plant.

Mayor Tsampalakis, who oversees the operation of the plant, told OPEN that the issue would be resolved within 45 days. However, the city council recently canceled a sewerage study for Kampos, one of the island’s main settlements, sparking strong local opposition.

The municipality has ordered new membranes to replace damaged bioreactors at a cost of €80,000.

Fee Hikes Amid Deficit

Despite the plant’s ongoing failures, the city council approved dramatic increases in water and sewerage fees. According to Patmia Chronika, for the first quarter of the year, consumption of 60 cubic meters now costs €125.45, up from €78.51 last year—a rise of roughly 65%. Sewerage fees, even though the system is nonfunctional, increased by 110%.

Officials cite a deficit of €418,000 in the water and sewerage sector due to high costs associated with desalination, plant operation, and maintenance of the aging, leaky network. Former mayor Lefteris Pende counters that while 500,000 cubic meters of water are produced annually, only 200,000 cubic meters are paid for, with the remainder lost or unbilled.

Complaints continue as minority councillors allege that some locals dump sewage into the plant manually in the afternoons, avoiding the €10 fee per truck. Local media report significant water loss due to leaks in the aging infrastructure, with tens of cubic meters wasted daily at the port of Skala alone.

History of the Collapse

On May 8, 2023, the Patmos Environmental Protection Association “Hippocampos” filed a complaint reporting that the biological plant, built with NSRF funds in 2018, had stopped functioning and sewage was again being dumped into the sea.

At that time, Mayor Pentes initiated emergency procedures, signing a four-month contract with the Greek company Waste-Water-Energy (WWE) on June 1, 2023, for €37,079 to operate the plant. The complaint and contract timing coincided with the October 2023 municipal elections, during which Tsampalakis narrowly won the mayorship.

The South Aegean Region’s environmental inspectors conducted inspections in summer 2023 and found the municipality unresponsive to the reported issues. WWE remains the current operator under a contract signed in February 2024, during Tsampalakis’ tenure. Unlike previous agreements, this contract now holds the municipality responsible for equipment replacement due to wear or damage not caused by WWE’s operations.

By 2023, the plant’s membranes—critical for wastewater treatment—were already damaged and failing to meet specifications. Despite WWE identifying salinity issues in the sewer network, the municipality did not address the problem until public outcry forced action.

Current Conditions

As of September 1, Mayor Tsampalakis claimed the plant was “partially” operational. However, untreated wastewater, including solids, continued to flow into the sea due to a malfunctioning pre-treatment system. The Ministry of Environment dispatched EYDAP crews after August when the stench drew international attention, revealing extensive damage and a blocked underwater pipeline, which the municipality is attempting to clear with professional divers.

Technical Challenges

The Patmos plant suffers from membrane and equipment damage caused by seawater infiltrating coastal pipelines placed below sea level. This issue is common in many Greek islands and coastal areas. Faulty pipe placement, sealing failures, or defective manholes allow seawater to enter the system, significantly shortening membrane lifespan from the expected 7–8 years.

In Patmos, the first fine from the Region was issued after only two years of operation, though serious problems began four years after construction. In response, the municipality is attempting to bring a second tank online, though the membranes have already been “well-used” and have a greatly reduced lifespan, according to EADAP officials.