- Heraklion’s main opposition has called for urgent action following last week’s sewage discharge near Koules Fortress.
- The intervention follows a report by Cretalive, which first documented the incident.
- Officials are being asked to identify the cause, repair the fault, and prevent future spills.
- Questions have also been raised about using new regional funding to upgrade the city’s wastewater infrastructure.
The sewage discharge reported last week along Heraklion’s waterfront has now become a political issue, with the city’s main opposition demanding immediate answers from the municipal administration.
The intervention follows a report by Cretalive, which documented wastewater flowing into the sea just metres from Koules Fortress at the height of the summer tourist season. The incident prompted an inspection by the Hellenic Coast Guard and renewed concerns about the condition of Heraklion’s ageing sewer network.
Michalis Karamalakis, leader of the municipal opposition group Heraklion, Our City, has formally asked Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos and the President of the Municipal Council to explain what caused the discharge, when the damaged section will be permanently repaired, and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents.
Karamalakis acknowledged the scale of the city’s wastewater system, which includes roughly 500 kilometres of sewer lines, 100 kilometres of stormwater drains, and 15 pumping stations. However, he argued that delaying major interventions until after the tourist season is no longer an acceptable solution.
“Residents and visitors do not see a plan. They see postponement,” he said.
Among the questions submitted to the municipality are requests for a detailed technical explanation of how wastewater entered the stormwater drainage system, a timetable for permanent repairs, a record of similar incidents reported in the old harbour during 2026, and an assessment of whether newly announced regional funding can be used to modernize the city’s wastewater infrastructure.
Earlier this month, the Region of Crete announced an €8 million funding programme for wastewater management projects. Karamalakis is urging the municipality to explore whether Heraklion can benefit from the initiative.
His intervention ends with a pointed observation that is likely to resonate with many residents.
“The city cannot keep discovering the same problem every summer and postponing it every autumn. The question is not whether funding exists. The question is whether there is a date.”
The municipality has not yet publicly responded to the requests.
