Sewage leak at Panagiopoula: DEYAK cites years of wear on Mouragia pipeline
CORFU. The Port Authority collected water samples following a report of a sewage leak, while DEYAK launched inspections of the sewer network. According to the utility, the problem is linked to the long-term strain placed on the sewer pipeline by the passage of heavy vehicles, and it may require extensive replacement.
A report of a small sewage leak in the Panagiopoula area, below Mouragia, prompted an immediate response from the relevant authorities. The Port Authority collected water samples from the site to assess the quality of the water.
Meanwhile, DEYAK has begun a precautionary inspection of the sewer network in the area to determine the cause of the leak. According to DEYAK, the affected pipeline will be taken out of service in the coming days so that maintenance and repair work can be carried out on the damaged sections.
As DEYAK officials explain, the latest incident once again highlights the long-standing problems affecting the sewer pipeline at Mouragia, part of which was replaced just a few months ago. However, the problem does not necessarily lie in the newly replaced section, but in the overall strain on the network. According to the utility, the constant passage of heavy vehicles above the pipeline route places significant stress on the infrastructure, causing sections of the pipe to become compressed, reducing its internal diameter and, in some locations, leading to fractures or other structural failures.
For this reason, DEYAK says that localised repairs do not provide a permanent solution. Instead, it is considering the need for extensive—if not complete—replacement of the pipeline. Such a project would require new excavation works along the length of the pipeline, making another road closure and significant traffic disruption unavoidable.
The challenges faced by repair crews were illustrated by an incident last week when, according to DEYAK, the supervisor of a maintenance team attempting to clear a blocked section of the pipeline lost consciousness inside the tunnel. He was taken to Corfu General Hospital as a precaution and was discharged a few hours later.
DEYAK stresses that a permanent solution will require not only technical interventions to the sewer network but also measures to reduce the strain on the pipeline, most importantly by restricting the passage of heavy vehicles along the route.
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
