Wastewater Reuse Plant – Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Lamia
ECONOMY
BUSINESS: 464 PRACTICES
TOPIC:
Initiative
SUBMITTED FROM:
ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΗ ΥΔΡΕΥΣΗΣ ΑΠΟΧΕΤΕΥΣΗΣ ΛΑΜΙΑΣ
Objective Action
The Wastewater Reuse Plant of the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Lamia (DEYAL) is a flagship initiative aimed at producing high-quality reclaimed water suitable for unrestricted agricultural irrigation, fully compliant with the applicable national and European regulatory standards.
The main objectives of the project are to:
- Improve water resource management by reusing treated wastewater and reducing pressure on freshwater resources.
- Protect the environment by minimizing treated effluent discharges while promoting resource efficiency and circular water use.
- Produce safe reclaimed water suitable for unrestricted irrigation in full compliance with applicable legislation and quality standards.
- Support the local community and agricultural sector by providing a reliable and sustainable alternative water source for irrigation, thereby strengthening regional water security.
Through the implementation of the Wastewater Reuse Plant, DEYAL has invested in an advanced environmental infrastructure project that enhances the region's resilience to climate change, promotes the sustainable use of natural resources, and contributes to the long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the wider Lamia area.
By transforming treated wastewater into a valuable and sustainable water resource, the project demonstrates how innovative water management practices can simultaneously address water scarcity, enhance agricultural resilience, protect aquatic ecosystems, and support the transition toward a circular, resource-efficient, and climate-resilient economy.
As a pioneering example of sustainable wastewater reuse, the project provides a replicable model for municipalities and water utilities seeking to implement effective circular water management solutions and strengthen their adaptation to future climate challenges.
Target Audience
The Wastewater Reuse Plant addresses a wide range of stakeholders, with a clear distinction between direct beneficiaries, who will directly benefit from the results and opportunities created by the project, and indirect beneficiaries, who will derive environmental, social and developmental benefits from the sustainable management of water resources.
Direct Beneficiaries
Producers and farmers operating within the area of responsibility of the Local Land Reclamation Organization (T.O.E.B.) of Megali Vrysi – Roditsa – Avlaki constitute the main group of direct beneficiaries. Through the operation of the Unit, the reclaimed water can be used for irrigation purposes, contributing to the provision of an additional water resource to meet irrigation needs and reducing dependence on conventional and limited water resources.
Indirect Beneficiaries
Residents and the wider local community within the area of responsibility of D.E.Y.A. Lamias constitute an important group of indirect beneficiaries, as they benefit from the more rational and efficient use of available water resources, environmental protection, and enhanced resilience of the area to the impacts of climate change.
The educational and scientific community can also benefit indirectly, through the creation of a real-life field for the application of modern wastewater treatment, water recovery and reuse technologies, as well as the promotion of circular economy practices.
The natural environment and future users of water resources are also indirect beneficiaries, as the reuse of reclaimed water reduces the consumption of natural water reserves and contributes to the sustainable management of the area's water balance.
Overall, the project provides direct benefits to the users of reclaimed water and to the operational activities of D.E.Y.A. Lamias, while also generating broader environmental, social and developmental benefits for the local community and the wider area. In this way, the initiative is embedded in the core activities of D.E.Y.A. Lamias and strengthens its strategic role as a provider of integrated and sustainable water-cycle management.
Duration
The contract for the construction of the Wastewater Reuse Plant (M.E.Y.A.) was signed on 16 July 2021, marking the beginning of a significant investment for the area. The construction works were completed on 31 May 2024, followed by the предусмотрed trial operation period, which was successfully completed on 14 November 2024.
Since November 2024, the Unit has been in continuous operational service, with D.E.Y.A. Lamias utilizing the infrastructure for water treatment and recovery, as well as for its distribution in accordance with the established reuse programme. The Unit has remained in operation to date, confirming the transition of the project from the construction and trial operation stages to stable and productive operational performance.
Description
The Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Lamia (DEYAL) has implemented a major environmental infrastructure project through the construction and operation of a Wastewater Reuse Plant, located within the Lamia Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project represents a significant investment in sustainable water management, circular economy principles, and climate change adaptation.
Construction commenced following the signing of the contract on 16 July 2021. The project was financed through the "Philodimos I" and "Antonis Tritsis" national development programmes, with a total budget of €2.45 million.
The facility has the capacity to produce up to 1,000 m³ of reclaimed water per hour, corresponding to a maximum daily production of 22,920 m³. Advanced tertiary treatment technologies ensure that the reclaimed water fully complies with national and European quality standards for unrestricted agricultural irrigation. The treatment process includes continuous granular media filtration of secondary-treated wastewater, followed by ultraviolet (UV) disinfection through a dedicated UV reactor, producing reclaimed water that is safe for agricultural reuse.
The project directly addresses the growing challenges posed by climate change, prolonged droughts, and increasing pressure on freshwater resources. At the same time, it fulfills a long-standing demand of the Megali Vrysi – Roditsa – Avlaki Local Land Reclamation Organization for a reliable alternative irrigation water supply.
A key advantage of the project is the proximity of the Lamia Wasterwater Treatment Plant to the existing irrigation network. The reclaimed water is conveyed through the area's central irrigation canal, eliminating the need for extensive new transmission infrastructure and significantly reducing both construction costs and environmental impacts.
During the approximately five-month irrigation season, the facility can supply around 2.1 million m³ of reclaimed water, covering approximately 20% of the total irrigation demand of the surrounding agricultural area. The project directly supports the irrigation of approximately 14,000 stremmas (1,400 hectares) of cultivated land located between Lamia and the Maliakos Gulf, strengthening agricultural resilience, reducing dependence on conventional freshwater resources, and contributing to the long-term protection of regional ecosystems.
Beyond irrigation, DEYAL has established a Memorandum of Cooperation with the General Secretariat for Waste Management of the Ministry of Environment and Energy to maximize the environmental benefits of the project. During the irrigation season, reclaimed water is supplied for agricultural use, while during the winter months it is used to flood saline soils, facilitating salt leaching through natural infiltration processes. This innovative seasonal management approach contributes to maintaining soil fertility, improving agricultural productivity, and restoring degraded land.
The Wastewater Reuse Plant is a flagship example of circular water management, demonstrating how treated wastewater can be transformed into a valuable strategic resource. By recovering water that would otherwise be discharged, the project strengthens regional water security, supports climate adaptation, protects freshwater ecosystems, and promotes the efficient use of natural resources.
Through this investment, DEYAL is actively advancing the transition toward a climate-resilient and resource-efficient future. The project delivers measurable environmental, social, and economic benefits while providing a scalable and replicable model for municipalities and water utilities seeking sustainable solutions to water scarcity and the increasing impacts of climate change.
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Impact on Society
The operation of the Wastewater Reuse Plant in Roditsa, Lamia, makes a significant contribution to the sustainable management of water resources while generating substantial environmental, social, and economic benefits for the local community.
The project primarily benefits local residents, farmers, and agricultural producers across the wider Lamia region by providing a reliable, sustainable, and climate-resilient alternative source of irrigation water. By reducing dependence on conventional freshwater resources, it enhances water security and supports the long-term sustainability of agricultural production.
At the same time, the project delivers wider environmental benefits by reducing treated wastewater discharges, protecting natural water resources, mitigating pollution, and promoting the efficient use of water. These outcomes contribute to improving environmental quality and strengthening public awareness of sustainable water management practices.
The Wastewater Reuse Plant is also a practical demonstration of the principles of the circular economy, transforming treated wastewater from a disposal stream into a valuable resource. By closing the water cycle, the project enhances regional resilience to climate change, addresses increasing water scarcity, and creates the conditions for more sustainable, productive, and resource-efficient agricultural development.
Beyond its direct local benefits, the project provides a scalable model for circular water management that can be replicated by municipalities and water utilities facing similar environmental and climate-related challenges, supporting the transition toward a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.
Indicative Irrigation Data for Existing Crops of the TOEB – 2024
Indicatively, we present certain data regarding the irrigation of the existing crops within the TOEB area for the year 2024.
The irrigation period extends from May to September, with a total duration of approximately 150 days. According to the available data, the total estimated irrigation requirements of the existing crops amount to 10,560,500 m³.
During the same irrigation period, the estimated production of reclaimed water available for irrigation reuse amounts to 2,100,000 m³, based on a daily production of 14,000 m³/day, according to the following calculation:
14,000 m³/day × 150 days = 2,100,000 m³.
The quantity of reclaimed water corresponds to approximately 19.89% of the total estimated irrigation requirements and, therefore, can cover approximately 20% of the irrigation needs of the existing crops within the TOEB area for the year 2024.
Initiative Location
The project is located in Roditsa, Lamia, within the Regional Unit of Phthiotis, in the Region of Central Greece, where the Lamia Wastewater Treatment Plant operates, including the Wastewater Reuse Plant.
The area represents a key environmental management infrastructure for the wider Lamia region, as the facility enables the treatment and beneficial reuse of municipal wastewater, producing high-quality reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation.
The strategic location of the Wastewater Reuse Plant in Roditsa allows its integration with the agricultural character and needs of the surrounding area. Through the sustainable management and reuse of water resources, the project supports environmental protection, strengthens local agricultural production, and contributes to the long-term resilience of the region against increasing water scarcity and climate-related challenges.
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Working with Organization
The Wastewater Reuse Plant was implemented by the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Lamia (DEYAL), which is both the project owner and the implementing authority, in collaboration with public institutions and specialized technical partners that contributed to the planning, financing, design, and construction of the project.
The key project partners include:
- Ministry of Interior (Greece) – Project financing through the "Philodimos I" Programme.
- General Secretariat for Coordinating Waste Management of the Ministry of Environment and Energy: D.E.Y.A. Lamias cooperates closely with the General Secretariat for Coordinating Waste Management, having signed a Memorandum of Cooperation covering the project and the disposal programme for the reclaimed water produced. The programme provides for the use of the reclaimed water for the irrigation of crops served by the T.O.E.B. during the summer period, as well as for the flooding of saline soils during the winter period, with the aim of leaching salts through infiltration. In this way, the cooperation contributes to maintaining the fertility and productivity of agricultural land.
- G.M. Sakellarakis Consulting Engineers – Preparation of the preliminary design studies and procurement documentation.
- KARKANIAS – Environmental Technology S.A. – Design-build contractor responsible for the construction and commissioning of the Wastewater Reuse Plant.
- Megali Vrysi – Roditsa – Avlaki Local Land Reclamation Organization – Strategic partner for the distribution and beneficial use of reclaimed water through its irrigation network, supporting sustainable agricultural production across the region.
The close collaboration among public authorities, technical experts, contractors, and water management stakeholders was instrumental in the successful delivery of this innovative circular water management project. Through this partnership, the project has generated significant environmental, social, and economic benefits, demonstrating the value of integrated governance and cross-sector cooperation in advancing sustainable water resource management and climate resilience.
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Workers Participation
The implementation and successful operation of the Wastewater Reuse Plant has been made possible through the coordinated efforts and technical expertise of the personnel of the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Lamia (DEYAL).
Employees from the utility's engineering, operational, and administrative departments actively contributed to the planning, construction supervision, commissioning, and ongoing operation and maintenance of the facility.
The project team includes engineers, technical specialists, and operational staff responsible for the operation of the Lamia Wastewater Treatment Plant, quality control of reclaimed water, maintenance of electromechanical equipment, environmental monitoring, and ensuring full compliance with the applicable regulatory framework governing wastewater treatment and water reuse.
The long-term success of the project relies on the knowledge, technical expertise, and continuous professional development of DEYAL's personnel, who ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the facility while safeguarding public health, protecting the environment, and delivering lasting benefits to the local community.
Due to the highly specialized nature of the infrastructure and the technical requirements associated with its safe and efficient operation, the implementation and management of the project have been carried out by qualified scientific, engineering, and technical personnel with the appropriate expertise and professional responsibilities.
While no volunteer participation was involved in the construction or operation of the facility, the project has benefited from the commitment, knowledge, and collaboration of specialized professionals dedicated to ensuring its successful implementation and long-term sustainable operation.
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Benefits for Οrganization
The operation of the Wastewater Reuse Plant has significantly strengthened the institutional role and long-term sustainability of the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Lamia (DEYAL).
The project contributes to:
- Strengthening DEYAL's environmental and social mission by delivering tangible benefits to both the community and the natural environment.
- Advancing the principles of the circular economy and sustainable development through the recovery and beneficial reuse of treated wastewater.
- Enhancing the organization's reputation and credibility as a forward-looking public utility that delivers innovative and sustainable environmental solutions.
- Ensuring compliance with current European Union and national policies on water reuse, supporting the implementation of integrated and sustainable water resource management practices.
- Creating lasting value for the local community by supporting agricultural productivity, conserving freshwater resources, and protecting the environment.
Overall, the project has strengthened DEYAL's operational effectiveness, environmental stewardship, and public value. It positions the organization as a modern and innovative water utility, demonstrating leadership in sustainable water resource management and serving as a benchmark for other municipalities and public utilities pursuing climate-resilient and circular water solutions.
Connection with Global Goals
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