The go-ahead has been given by the prefecture for the 'final solution' to the island's water problems.  The dam/reservoir approach has been finally shelved in favour of a desalinization plant.  If all goes well, this should be in operation by June next year providing a continuous water supply to all Symiot houses for the first time in Symi's history.

One might ask how all this can be achieved in so short a time, but when one considers how little the existing infrastructure of the island will be affected and how marvellously the topography of the island seems to be suited, one wonders why it was not attempted before.

Firstly, the Pedi valley has a relatively high water table of saline water which can be relatively easily desalinized at far less cost than that of the desalinization of sea water.  There are about 30 wells (bore holes) sunk in the valley during various municipal water prospecting efforts over the years.  These can be reopened as required to supply the desalinization plant.

Secondly, the town generator is located in the Pedi valley so the electricity supply would be close at hand.  It would seem that the capacity of the generator would have to be increased to cope with the increased demand.

Thirdly, the existing pipework system from the watership docking point can be easily utilized to pump the desalinized water to the town's reservoirs from whence it gravity feeds the town network.

As regards the equipment, it is understood that the osmotic filter desalinization unit, with a capacity to produce 1000 tonnes of water per day,  requires only a simple structure to house it and will be delivered in a container.  In essence it is merely a much larger version of the unit already installed at Marathounda which was reported on in the Symi Visitor, November 2000.

The mathematics seem very attractive:  The machine can produce about 1000 tonnes of water a day.  In the peak months of August and September the island's consumption is about 700 tonnes a day.  During the other months it is about 300 to 500 tonnes.  The system should be capable of meeting the island's requirements easily.  The initial installation of the system will be paid for by the Prefecture and the Municipality.  It will be run by employees of the Greek company providing the desalinization equipment, TERNA, for a period of 18 months to two years.  This

How Green will the system be?  This is quite hard to quantify.  A certain saving in electricity, which will be of interest to the householder, is of that used by domestic cistern pumps.  With a continuous supply such pumps would no longer be necessary on a regular basis.  However, as regards the island's total energy requirements, it will undoubtedly mean a greater draw on the island's power station.  To offset this, TERNA plans to install two wind generators with a 670 KW capacity to power the unit.  This is a very welcome move.  The other factor worth mentioning is that the water ships will no longer be necessary which will save fossil fuel.

Most troubling perhaps is the problem of the by- product.  The process produces large quantities of extremely saline water.  This is usually pumped back into the sea.  If it were pumped into an enclosed bay such as Pedi, it would certainly have some effect on the ecological balance.  Let us hope that sufficient attention is paid to this matter.

In conclusion one may say that this is a very interesting and important project with every chance of eventual success.  Let us hope that things flow smoothly.

should be long enough to sort out any teething problems.  Thereafter the control will pass into the hands of a Symiot company (a similar arrangement to ANES) which will be responsible for the service.  The initial cost of the water piped to Symiot households is expected to be 600 GRD per tonne, which compares favourably with the present 400 GRD per tonne.

The problems which may be encountered were discussed with the Symi Visitor by Mr Gianni Voyiatzis, the civil engineer from Athens who has been consulted by the Town Hall.  He feels that TERNA is a company with a good reputation and that on the face of it the scheme seems very promising.  That it can supply the island's water requirements is certain.  He is, however, somewhat sceptical about the feasibility of a continuous water supply in the short term.  He feels that considerable organisation and monitoring will be required and probably additional municipal reservoirs to maintain a sufficient reserve.  He also mentions the problem of the reintroduction of trace elements.  Desalinized water is very hard, being absolutely pure, and is not normally regarded as being potable.  This is something which will have to be attended to by TERNA.

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