One household in Apokoronas used 20 tonnes of water a day – municipality defends tiered pricing

Summary

A routine check in Apokoronas revealed a domestic water connection consuming around 20 tonnes per day – equivalent to 7,150 tonnes a year – far beyond any normal household use. The municipal water utility DEYAA is defending its tiered pricing system, arguing it exists to prevent waste and ensure fair access for all residents, not to raise revenue. For households using water in reasonable amounts, the rate stands at just €0.30 per cubic metre, covering more than 7,500 connections across the municipality.

One tap, 7,150 tonnes: Apokoronas flags extreme water use

A single domestic water connection in Apokoronas has been found to consume approximately 20 tonnes of water every day, year-round – adding up to more than 7,150 tonnes annually. That figure, recorded during a review by the municipal water utility DEYAA, is many times higher than what any ordinary household would need and has prompted a public statement from the municipality defending its water pricing policy.

The numbers behind the headline

To put the scale in context: a typical Greek household uses somewhere between 100 and 200 litres a day. The connection in question was averaging 20,000 litres – 20 tonnes – every single day, in both summer and winter. The municipality has stated clearly that this level of consumption is neither normal nor socially acceptable.

Water, according to the municipality's position, is a public resource. The ability to pay a large bill does not, in its view, entitle any individual to consume without limit at the expense of the wider community.

Complaints from the highest consumers

What has drawn particular attention is the pattern described by the municipality: in some cases, the users with the most extreme consumption levels are also those who have filed formal complaints against DEYAA over its tiered water pricing system.

Under that system, the price per cubic metre rises as consumption increases. The municipality argues this is not about raising money but about discouraging waste and protecting a shared natural resource. According to the municipality, this is its position – no independent assessment of the system's design or impact is included in the source material.

What most residents actually pay

For households that use water in reasonable amounts, the current tariff is low:

Standard rate: €0.30 per cubic metre
Connections at this rate: more than 7,500 across the municipality

The municipality says the vast majority of residents use water responsibly and argues it would be unfair for them to indirectly subsidise the excess consumption of a small number of others.

Water supply has improved over the past year

The municipality notes that water supply conditions in Apokoronas have improved significantly compared to a year ago, following investment in leak repairs and infrastructure upgrades. It says this progress does not mean water is unlimited, and it has pledged to keep investing while continuing to enforce the principle that water belongs to everyone.

Note: This article is based on a press release issued by the Apokoronas municipal authority. No response from the consumers concerned is included in the source.

Official source

PRESS RELEASE – "When waste is baptised a right"

Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis: "Water is not a privilege of the few. 7,150 tonnes of water per year from a single connection, meaning 20 tonnes daily on average – summer and winter alike – from a single domestic connection, and then complaints filed against DEYAA."

26 June 2026, 8:24 AM

A year ago, Apokoronas faced water supply problems. Today, thanks to the interventions of D.E.Y.A. Apokoronas and the Municipal Authority, the picture has changed. Better management of water resources, addressing leaks and strengthening infrastructure have secured significantly better water supply conditions for residents. However, this does not mean that water is inexhaustible.

Recently, a domestic connection was recorded with a consumption of approximately 20 tonnes of water per day, i.e. 7,151 tonnes per year. This consumption cannot be considered normal or socially acceptable. Water is a public good and not a personal privilege. No one is entitled to believe that because they can pay an inflated bill, they may consume without limits, disregarding the needs of other citizens.

Even greater concern is raised by the fact that in certain cases, those who display such extreme consumption levels are the very same people who file complaints against D.E.Y.A. Apokoronas for applying the tiered tariff. In reality, the tiered tariff is not applied for revenue-collection purposes – it is applied to protect water, prevent waste and ensure that all residents have fair access to a shared natural resource.

It is worth noting that D.E.Y.A. Apokoronas implements one of the strongest social policies in the field of water supply. Reasonable domestic consumption is charged at just €0.30 per cubic metre, across more than 7,500 connections. This demonstrates that the Company's policy does not aim to burden households but to protect society and the natural resource.

The great majority of citizens use water with moderation and responsibility, and it is not fair for conscientious residents to indirectly subsidise the waste of a few who believe that their financial capacity permits them to consume without limits.

D.E.Y.A. Apokoronas has an obligation to protect these citizens and the public interest.

We will continue to invest in works and infrastructure, but at the same time we will continue to defend a simple principle: "Water belongs to everyone and no one has the right to waste it at the expense of society."

Mayor of Apokoronas Charalampos Koukianakis