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Water bills in Koufonisi and the Small Cyclades have reached unprecedented levels, leaving hotels, restaurants, and other small businesses on the popular Greek island facing financial strain.
Local owners say the charges are unsustainable and could force many to shut down.
Recent invoices covering May to August 2024 shocked business owners with amounts ranging from €3,000 ($3,500) to €29,000 for just one season’s consumption.
Examples include €6,900 for a hotel, €11,500 for a restaurant, €17,000 for a beach bar, and €3,000 for a small hair salon.
Hotel owner Thanasis Tsadaris shared three years of invoices to show the sharp rise, as reported by Proto Thema. In 2022, he paid €3,074 for 1,410 m³ of water (€2.18 per m³).
In 2023, he paid €3,046 for 1,562 m³ (€1.95 per m³). In 2024, for only 713 m³, the bill jumped to €6,900 — €9.67 per m³. Of this, €3,920 was for water, €1,990 for sewerage, and €990 for VAT.
According to comparative data, Koufonisi has the highest water prices in the Aegean.
Serifos, Ios, and Folegandros charge €2.99 per m³, Sifnos €3.55, Syros €4.40, and Mykonos between €2.76 and €4.88 per m³.
Business owners say the water bills equal staff salaries or even their annual tax obligations.
The Koufonisi Tourism Businesses Association (STEK) will hold an emergency general assembly to address the crisis.
Members plan to demand:
Local businesses argue that the current pricing treats islands as if they are in peak season year-round.
“This is the final blow to our businesses,” one statement said, calling water a basic social good essential for life and tourism.
Business owners warn that these bills threaten the survival of Koufonisi’s economy, which relies almost entirely on tourism.
They say the municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades is acting against their efforts to make the island a sustainable destination.
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