Aegina: Race to get the water back - Divers repair the pipeline, queues for bottled water, transport by water-carrying ships

Since Monday, February 9, according to information, underwater work has begun at the site of the damage, marking the actual start of the intervention to restore the water supply.

Queues for bottled water

At the same time, residents and professionals of the island are facing serious difficulties in their daily lives. As reported to iefimerida, hygiene problems are now visible, while in several areas queues are observed in stores for the supply of bottled water, which is quickly running out. The situation remains pressing and the need for immediate restoration of the water supply is considered imperative.

Divers have gone down to the seabed to repair the pipeline
According to information, divers are already at the seabed, transporting components and cleaning the site of the damage, while the Region is closely monitoring the progress of the work through its technical services. “Restoring the pipeline is the absolute priority for the coming days, however, the schedule depends largely on the weather conditions,” say people monitoring the work.

The operation is technically demanding. The site of the damage is located at a depth of approximately 50 meters, which limits the time the divers can spend at the site to a few minutes a day and imposes strict safety protocols. This means that the work is progressing at a slow but steady pace and only when the weather conditions allow.

The steps of the work on the pipeline

The schedule set by the contractor foresees a duration of work of approximately 15 days, provided that there is a continuous period of good weather. The first step is to disconnect the damaged component and tow it to the surface, so that the new permanent section of the pipeline can be installed. The installation of the new component is estimated to take three to five days, as it is a large and complex technical element that must be aligned and fixed at several points on the seabed, before pressure testing and re-operation can begin.

It is recalled that Aegina was supplied with water for years by water tankers, as the island's aquifer had been depleted. This practice was discontinued in early 2022, with the commissioning of the submarine pipeline. The project, with a total cost of 24.7 million euros, was financed by EU funds from the Attica 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 RDP, is 14 kilometers long and was sunk to a depth of up to 90 meters, with the aim of becoming a permanent solution for the island's water supply.

The emergency solution with water-carrying ships

Until the pipeline is restored, the Municipality of Aegina is once again turning to the transport of water by water-carrying ships. This solution was activated after the new failure that has left the island without water since December 20.

In practice, a water-carrying ship will operate as a floating tank in Leonti and from there the water will be channeled into the island's network. The contract was signed on February 2, 2026, with a budget of 247,380 euros (including VAT) and provides for the transport of 28,500 cubic meters of drinking water. Approximately 1,000 cubic meters will be pumped into the network daily, depending on needs.

The contract is valid until the delivery of the quantities is completed or until the pipeline is restored. The ships must be certified for the transport of drinking water and meet all health standards, while continuous checks are foreseen. According to information, the transport of water has already started on Saturday.

Aegina in a state of emergency

However, Aegina remains in a state of Civil Protection Emergency for three months, until May 11, 2026, at the request of the Municipality. The decision allows for the acceleration of procedures, the allocation of resources and better coordination of the bodies involved.

Water from the boreholes is used only for cleaning and not for drinking or cooking. Inspections by the Public Health Directorate of the Attica Region on samples from various areas of the island identified microorganisms and insufficient chlorination, resulting in immediate corrective measures being requested.