Newsroom
A sewage leak at one of Paphos’ busiest coastal areas has sparked outrage, and the president of the Paphos District Local Government Organization (EOA) isn’t holding back.
Charalambos Pittokopitis has openly blamed the contractor managing the sewage plant and pumping station in Acheleia for what he called “criminal mismanagement,” saying the recent overflow of raw sewage onto the beach in Geroskipou could have, and should have, been avoided.
“This isn’t just unacceptable, it’s criminal,” Pittokopitis said after a high-level emergency meeting on Tuesday. The reason? A contractor who, according to him, took the job for too low a price and now isn’t putting in the proper maintenance. “They’re not making the profit they expected, so they’re cutting corners. And the result is sewage flooding a public beach.”
The president also didn’t shy away from admitting that the contract they inherited was “problematic” from the start, and now the consequences are literally bubbling to the surface.
In response, the EOA is now stepping in with tighter oversight. Daily inspections will be carried out at the sewage treatment plant and final pumping station by the EOA’s own technical engineer, to monitor the situation firsthand and make sure contract terms are finally being followed.
“We need eyes on the ground, every single day,” Pittokopitis said. “We need to know exactly how this system is operating and be ready to take corrective action.”
The issue, it seems, comes down to a bad contract and poor follow-through. Pittokopitis says the company running the facility underbid for the project and can’t cover proper upkeep. The tanks and pumps are reportedly being neglected, leading to breakdowns and eventually, overflows that are ending up in the sea.
“It’s clear the machinery isn’t being maintained properly,” he said. “This isn’t just a local inconvenience, it’s an environmental disaster in the making.”
The timing couldn’t be worse, as the tourism season begins to ramp up and beachgoers head to the coast. Raw sewage on the sand doesn’t just pose a health risk, it threatens the very reputation of Paphos as a clean, safe destination.
Locals and officials alike are demanding swift action, and with the EOA now stepping in, there’s hope the situation can be brought under control — but the damage to public trust may already be done.
As Pittokopitis put it: “People are right to be angry. We are too. And this time, we’re not letting it slide.”
