In response to devastating effects of storm Daniel in Thessaly, Greece, GWP-Med designed and implemented a new stormwater management project with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation. The project was completed within just a year from the 2023 floods and is expected to serve as a protective shield against future extreme weather events, preventing flooding in the Bara area of Trikala. It is the first public-private partnership project completed after the catastrophic floods that struck Thessaly.
The project involved the installation of a new 340 metre long stormwater drainage pipeline from the Bara area to the Balkoura ditch in Trikala an intervention which more than doubles the drainage system's capacity for stormwater removal. It was designed in close collaboration with The Municipal Water Supply and Sewage Company of Trikala (DEYAT) and complements its broader strategy for flood prevention in the city.
The project’s handover took place at a special event in Trikala on 2 October 2024, attended by the Secretary-General for Natural Disaster Restoration and State Aid, Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Mr. Petros Kampouris (right), the Mayor of Trikala Mr. Nikolaos Sakkas (centre), the President of the Trikala Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEYAT), Mr. Christos Blougouras (left), the General Manager of The Coca-Cola Company for Greece, Cyprus, and Malta, Mr. Stavros Mourelatos (2nd from right), and the Chair of Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean, Prof. Michael Scoullos (2nd from left).
The project's central technical intervention involves the installation of a rainwater drainage pipeline from the Barra area in Trikala, one of the most flood-prone and densely populated areas of the city. This intervention will act as a protective shield against possible future extreme weather events, providing a solution to the chronic flooding problem facing the area.
"The completion of this flood control project in collaboration with GWP-Med and the Municipality of Trikala represents an important step in protecting the area from the effects of extreme weather events, while also strengthening the resilience of the local community," noted Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation.
Trikala Mayor, Nikos Sakkas, emphasized, "The cooperation between our Municipality and DEYAT with Coca-Cola in Greece and GWP-Med was flawless. This partnership can serve as a model for how a project should be implemented, right from the very first moment. At the same time, our joint efforts provided clear evidence of how local governments and the private sector can contribute to addressing aspects of the climate crisis, which has had such a significant impact on our city and the villages of our Municipality. With the flood control project completed in such a short period, we aim to become stronger in facing extreme natural phenomena, protecting both our citizens and their property. I would like to thank every partner from our Municipality, DEYAT, and the participating companies who contributed to the completion of this major project."
Stavros Mourelatos, General Manager of Coca-Cola Hellas, stated, "The completion of the flood control project in the Municipality of Trikala is a significant milestone for us. We are proud that, with the support of The Coca-Cola Foundation, we stood by the residents and responded immediately, completing the project within just one year, thereby enhancing the resilience of the area. Our commitment to supporting the local community remains steadfast, and we will continue to invest in projects that promote the quality of life of the residents and protect against the impacts of the climate crisis. We thank all our partners and the local community for their support in the initiatives we implemented together for Thessaly."
Professor Michael Scoullos, GWP-Med Chair, stated, "Phenomena like the devastating storm Daniel should no longer surprise us. All forecasts for climate change point to an increase in extreme weather events, making it urgent and necessary to strengthen the resilience of our cities. We have recently witnessed this in Central Europe and other parts of the world. In close collaboration with the Municipality of Trikala and by reinforcing the projects it had already planned, we designed and implemented, with the support of The Coca-Cola Foundation, a project that fortifies the Bara area, in the heart of Trikala, against floods. Our intervention also includes capacity-building actions for local authorities, as well as a new specialized educational program on climate resilience, which will be implemented for the first time in the schools of Trikala."