Syros: Water price increase from 2027

The Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEWA) of Syros is proceeding with an increase in water prices from 2027, with the adjustment ranging from 15% to 45%, depending on the consumption category of each supply. This is the first change in the company’s pricing policy since 2016, meaning the first adjustment in a period of approximately one decade during which charges remained, according to what was announced, stable. The maintenance of stable pricing for such a long period practically means that the new adjustment comes to cover cumulatively all the intermediate years, according to Cyclades24, which published the related story on Wednesday 23 September 2026.

The fact that the adjustment does not concern a single percentage but a range of 15% to 45% suggests that DEWA Syros applies tiered pricing, with a different increase percentage per consumption category, and not a horizontal increase that would apply equally to all supplies. This range, from the lowest 15% to the highest 45%, shows that the final burden on each supply will depend on how it is classified in the categories set by the company. Municipal water companies on the islands operate, in general terms, under increased economic pressure, as ensuring adequate drinking water often requires additional cost for the operation of desalination units, water transport by tankers or ships when local sources are insufficient, as well as managing the intense seasonal demand in summer, when the population multiplies due to tourism. Within this framework, the president of the board of directors of DEWA Syros, Nikos Skevofilax, places the decision, stating that the increase is “necessary and essential exclusively for the sustainability of the company.”

For households and businesses on Syros, the announcement means that the water bill is expected to be set at a higher level from 2027, with the magnitude of the burden varying significantly depending on the consumption category in which each supply falls. So far, the new price per cubic meter has not been announced, nor the exact way of classifying consumption categories, nor the number of supplies or connections that will be affected by each percentage of the range. Information has also not been disclosed about the company’s financial figures, such as revenues, expenses or debts, which would allow for a fuller assessment of the need invoked by management. Similar water supply network management issues concern other Cycladic islands, such as Naxos, where a new water supply and sewage regulation is under public consultation.

Exactly when in 2027 the new pricing will be implemented has not been clarified, as DEWA Syros has not announced a specific date or possible transition phases to the new charging policy. No reaction has yet been disclosed from the municipal council, from local community organizations or from residents of the island, nor whether any information procedure is foreseen before the final implementation of the new pricing. The issue of water sufficiency remains chronically critical for the Cyclades, as shown by the recorded water scarcity on Naxos, reminding us of the challenges facing water supply infrastructure throughout the island complex.