Forty percent of households and businesses in Greece’s second largest city Thessaloniki have been left without tap water. The problem started on Tuesday due to a big damage in the main water pipeline of Aravisos that supplies with water the urban complex of the city together with the river of Aliakmonas.
Works to restore the damage are ongoing and the residents are flocking to purchase bottled water to cover basic needs like drinking, cooking, washing, cleaning, etc.
According to a statement by Thessaloniki Water Company on Thursday (EYATH), water problems will continue throughout the day. A new announcement will be issued depending on the progress of the leakage restoration works.
The Water Company has called on residents to make as little as possible use of water, adding it was aware of the problems that have arisen in households and businesses.
Thousands of people have stormed the telephone center of EYATH.
The Water Company has said it expected restoration works to have been completed by Friday noon and the water supply to gradually return to the city.
The 1,65m diameter cement pipeline has a wide range of crushing, it will be replaced by a steel pipeline and the necessary connection fittings, the company statement said.
According to EYATH, “as long as works continues and until the water supply is fully restored, arrangements will be attempted in order allow the available water to be distributed as evenly as possible.”
KTG understands that in simple words, this means, that water will be available at certain times in certain areas and even though the water flow will not be of the usual volume. At the same time, water supply will be cut off completely in certain areas for more than ten hours.
The Water company calls on consumers to limit the water consumption.
Meanwhile, media report that schools in several areas will remain closed due to the water problem.