Nea Chora: Calls for Resignations Over Sewage Leak

The sewage leak that hit Nea Chora, the largest neighbourhood in Chania, is turning into a political issue. The ״Democrats – Progressive Centre of Chania״ party on Thursday, August 13, called for the Municipality and ΔΕΥΑΧ to be held accountable, concluding that ״some people must resign now.״ Its statement raises four questions, concerning the financial damage to residents and businesses, the health risks, the pollution of the Kladisos river, and the reputational damage to the city. The intervention comes two days after the problem first appeared.

For their part, the Municipality of Chania and ΔΕΥΑΧ issued a joint update on Wednesday, August 12. It stated that repair work was in full progress and that the network was expected to be fully operational by the afternoon. ΔΕΥΑΧ maintains that the rupture of the central concrete sewage pipe on Mitropolitou Kyrillou Street was sudden and could not have been foreseen. It also clarifies that it was not caused by network overload, and that the large replacement programme concerned the water supply network, not the sewage network. Extensive inspections and unblocking work will follow, as soil, stones and debris likely entered the system.

The temporary swimming ban on the Nea Chora beach up to the Kladisos estuary remains in effect. It will only be lifted once sampling confirms that water quality has been restored. Even so, from the afternoon of Tuesday, August 11, tourists were seen swimming despite the ban. A local outlet noted that ״no service took responsibility for protecting public health.״ The issue of enforcing the ban remains open.

Local business owners describe serious financial damage during peak season. ״They have ruined us,״ shop owners said, adding that ״we were expecting to do business now, and after this we will have to fight to win back people’s trust in Nea Chora.״ The scene at the Kladisos estuary was described as dispiriting, with a strong stench. The neighbourhood has a large number of restaurants that depend on summer traffic. Restoring its image, they say, will take time beyond the technical repair.

Meanwhile, the issue of informing the public was also raised. Chaniotika Nea found ״a game of passing the buck״ between agencies over whose responsibility it is to activate the 112 alert system and whether it applies to this type of incident. The system is normally used for natural disasters and emergency threats. Its use for public health advisories is not clearly defined. The question remains unanswered.

Specialist internist Manolis Fragakis, speaking to Chaniotika Nea, described the risks from contact with contaminated water. He referred to pathogens such as E. coli, enterococci, salmonella and campylobacter. The most common consequence is acute gastroenteritis, while external otitis, conjunctivitis and skin infections can also occur. Higher risk applies to young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. The advice is to avoid all contact with the water until the ban is lifted.

The case also now has a judicial dimension, as a ΔΕΥΑΧ employee was arrested for marine environment pollution and released on the order of a prosecutor. The timeline of the damage and the first measures is described in the report on the broken pipe and the recommendation to avoid swimming. Creta Today will publish the sampling results as soon as they are announced. More from Chania on the Chania page. The presumption of innocence applies to the arrested employee.