**Limassol Chamber of Commerce Claims Wastewater Crisis Could Have Been Averted**
The Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Evel) has voiced strong criticism regarding the recent wastewater crisis in the region, which has led to an indefinite strike by wastewater tanker operators. Chamber president Andreas Tsouloftas stated that the situation could have been prevented had the government heeded their warnings over the past five years about the urgent need for alternative wastewater disposal infrastructure.
In an interview with *Entrepreneurial Limassol*, a publication of the chamber, Tsouloftas emphasized that repeated communications with relevant authorities were ignored, leaving Limassol unprepared when the Vati Wastewater Treatment Plant began reducing operations for necessary upgrades. He highlighted that the current disruption stems from inadequate planning and poor coordination among involved authorities.
Tsouloftas described the existing arrangement, where the wastewater reception facility is operational only two days a week, as unsustainable. He pointed out that Limassol lacks alternative facilities capable of managing wastewater during periods when the main treatment plant is out of service for maintenance or upgrades, unlike other districts.
The issue escalated when wastewater tanker operators initiated an indefinite strike and organized a protest outside the Presidential Palace. They are demanding that the government promptly designate a lawful site for wastewater disposal, citing that the reduced capacity at the Vati plant has caused significant delays for tanker lorries, overflow incidents, and severe challenges in servicing households, businesses, and hotels. The operators have made it clear that their industrial action will persist until a viable solution is reached.
In response, the Limassol District Local Government Organisation (EOA Limassol) defended its management of the situation. The EOA stated that it cannot indefinitely increase the volume of wastewater accepted from tanker operators, as its priority is to ensure the safe operation of treatment facilities serving the wider Limassol area. The organization highlighted that previous incidents have shown the risks associated with overloading the treatment plant.
According to the EOA, accommodating a substantial increase in daily wastewater volume from tanker lorries is not feasible, as it could compromise the operation of a facility that processes approximately 30,000 cubic meters of municipal wastewater daily. They also noted that wastewater delivered by tanker differs significantly from sewage entering through the sewerage network, often containing solid materials, toxic substances, or other unsuitable waste that could damage the plant’s equipment.
An EOA spokesperson explained that tanker-delivered wastewater necessitates a specialized acceptance procedure and pre-treatment process before it can enter the treatment system. They indicated that a long-term solution would involve constructing dedicated storage facilities at the Vati plant, enabling gradual acceptance and treatment of wastewater without disrupting normal operations.
The Water Development Department has also reported challenges related to unsuitable wastewater identified at the facility, which has compounded operational difficulties during the ongoing upgrades. They anticipate that the plant will return to full operational capacity by the end of the year.
Both the Water Development Department and the Department of Environment have attributed the current issues to the temporary impacts of the upgrade works at the Vati facility. They noted that measures have been implemented to assist wastewater transport operators, including the use of treatment facilities at Moni and Vathia Gonia, while exploring additional options to alleviate the situation.
The Vati Wastewater Treatment Plant is responsible for handling domestic wastewater, industrial effluent, excess sludge, and landfill leachate. The ongoing upgrade is being conducted under a contract awarded by the Water Development Department following a public tender, with the contract signed with Michaniki Perivallontos S.A. on February 4, 2026. This agreement includes refurbishing the treatment plant during the first year, followed by its operation and maintenance for five years, with an option to extend for an additional year.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and the local government organizations are under pressure to find a sustainable resolution to the wastewater crisis, ensuring that the essential services are restored and future disruptions are avoided.