Large EU fine looms over wastewater

Greece faces a fine of at least 17 million euros for failing to comply with European Union wastewater treatment regulations at the Thriaseio Plain in western Attica.

The European Commission has proposed that Greece should face additional fines for every day that it fails to get the facilities serving the towns of Elefsina, Aspropyrgos, Magoula and Mandra up to scratch.

The European Court of Justice is expected to uphold the Commission's recommendation as 12 years have passed since Greece's first conviction for violating environmental rules, particularly with regard to the quality of water discharged into the Gulf of Elefsina.

After the first conviction in 2004, Greek authorities assured the Commission that biological treatment plants and the bulk of the water network to the plants would be completed by 2010. A new plant did start operating in the area in 2012, but...