The Municipality of Mykonos is moving quickly to establish an emergency desalination unit, aiming to reinforce the island’s strained water system ahead of the critical 2026 tourist season and safeguard its reputation as a premium international destination.
Mykonos already relies heavily on desalination, but the explosion in summer demand—driven by high-intensity services such as luxury hotels and villas—often sees consumption surge to 15,000 cubic meters per day, far exceeding the existing network capacity of approximately 10,000 cubic meters per day.
The new procurement serves as an essential safeguard, designed to prevent local shortages, pressure drops, and operational failures that could severely affect residents and tourism businesses during peak load. The existing capacity is approximately 10,000 cubic meters per day (prior to this contract), while peak demand reaches approximately 15,000 cubic meters per day in the high season.
The “water as a service” solution
The contract concerns the supply of 290,000 cubic meters of desalinated water over eight months, corresponding to a steady additional daily production of 2,000 cubic meters (2 million liters). The new, temporary unit will be installed in Ano Mera next to the local pumping station, allowing the water to be integrated immediately into the network. Production must commence no later than May 1, 2026, well before peak tourist arrivals.
The project’s total budget is €539,400 (about $628,100). The contractor will fully undertake the operation, quality control, and maintenance of the desalination unit. This budget equates to an approximate unit cost of €1.86 ($2.17) per cubic meter.
Desalination risks for the environment and…your hair
Desalination, while effective for producing fresh water, presents significant drawbacks, primarily related to its environmental impact, high cost, and intensive energy consumption.
The most critical environmental drawback of desalination is the production and disposal of brine, a highly concentrated liquid waste stream, and the impact on marine life. Furthermore, significant energy is required to force water through the membranes in Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants or to heat the water in thermal distillation plants.
Desalinated water is safe for domestic use (drinking, bathing, cleaning), but it can pose challenges for beauty routines, especially hair health. The post-treatment process often leaves desalinated water with high concentrations of chlorine and calcium, which can behave similarly to hard water. Regular shampooing with this water can strip hair of its natural oils, leading to increased dryness, brittleness, and breakage, as well as poor lathering of products.
Related: Greece Imposes New Building Restrictions on Mykonos and Santorini
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