In a rare, but legally foreseeable move, the Department of Environment proceeded yesterday, issuing a reasoned finding for a project that has not only been completed, but is already in full operation. This is the rainwater collection network in the historic center of Limassol, a vital infrastructure that shields the city, focusing on the area of the Medieval Castle and Anexartisias Street, which have faced intense flooding phenomena over time.
These phenomena were due both to the morphology of the ground, which directs large loads of rainwater towards the city center, and to the evolution of the urban fabric, which exacerbated the problem, combined with the inadequate existing stormwater drainage infrastructure.
The case of this project highlights a peculiarity in the licensing procedures. Although construction work began on January 10, 2022 and was completed on June 13, 2025, the environmental assessment was carried out after the fact.
The project, which cost a total of €6,950,000, was implemented at a critical time for the city's infrastructure, covering the need for immediate flood protection before the formal completion of all environmental procedures. The Environmental Authority clarified that the assessment of the effects that have already taken place is possible exceptionally, based on European case law.
The project was carried out on 28 streets of the center, including three main collectors that channel rainwater into the Garyllis River. The results are already visible, as surface runoff has decreased by about 65-68% in the areas of Kastro and Anexartisias Street.
Interestingly, during the excavations, which reached a depth of up to 3 meters, important archaeological finds were found. Specifically, archaeological tombs were found on 16th June under Ellados streets, as well as findings in the areas of the Rio cinema and Tzamouda.
The work was carried out under the close supervision of the Department of Antiquities for the protection of cultural heritage.
According to the report, the effects during the construction phase (noise, dust, traffic congestion) were considered temporary. In total, over 50,000 tons of soil and stones were produced, which were allocated to other projects for backfills, promoting the circular economy.
For the operation of the project, the Department of Environment considers that the effect is completely positive, as catastrophic floods are reduced and urban infrastructure is protected. The project is now considered environmentally compatible, thus closing a pending issue involving an investment of almost €7 million for the safety of the citizens of Limassol.
The project was implemented within the administrative boundaries of the sewerage system of the Limassol District Authority and the construction works lasted 20 months.
To address these problems, a new rainwater collection network was built on the main roads of Limassol, which leads rainwater either to existing rainwater systems or to rivers, depending on the area. Upon completion of the project, rainwater from a catchment area with a total area of approximately 93 hectares was diverted to the bed of the Garyllis River, achieving a significant reduction in runoff heading to the historic center. More specifically, it led to a reduction of surface runoff by approximately 65% in the area of Kastro and 68% in Anexartisias Street, while at the same time it strengthened the protection of important commercial and residential areas and contributed to increasing the resilience of the urban fabric against extreme weather events.
The streets on which works were carried out are the following: 1. Filiou Zanettou 2. Beijing 3. Dodecanese 4. N.P. Lanitis 5. Georgiou Sykopetriti 6. Agias Fylaxeos 7. Idaliou 8. Thessalonikis 9. Crusader 10. Gjirokastrou 11. Therissou 12. Vassilis Michailidis 13. Demosthenous Mitsi 14. Leontiou I 15. Christodoulou Papadaki 16. Mycenae 17. Victor Hugo 18. Justin 19. Orfeos 20. Feyzi Amounts 21. Navarinou 22. Agiou Spyridon 23. Leontiou Machaira 24. Nafpliou 25. Glastonos 26. Oratiou 27. Thessalonikis 28. Hercules.
