The sum of 803,520 euros, including VAT, has been committed by the Municipality of Spata–Artemida until 2029 for the system that automatically collects water meter readings and remotely monitors and manages the water supply network. The decision to enter into a long-term commitment (No. 700/2026) was signed by the mayor, Dimitris Markou, on 23 September and published on the ‘Diafania’ transparency portal on the morning of the 24th.
The full title of the expenditure is ‘Provision of supervision and maintenance services and the supply of spare parts for the automatic consumption data collection system, telemetry and remote monitoring – remote control of the water supply network’. The breakdown by year is as follows: €66,960 for 2026, €267,840 for 2027, a further €267,840 for 2028 and €200,880 for 2029.
Three years, not four
The amounts are divided exactly by 22,320 euros, which is the monthly cost for a full year (267,840 divided by 12). 2026 corresponds to three months, and 2029 to nine. Therefore, the service planned by the Municipality lasts for 36 months, that is, three years, from October 2026 to September 2029, spread over four budgets. In the details of the post, the expenditure is recorded as the Municipality’s own revenue.
What is the system?
‘Automatic consumption data collection’ means that the water meter transmits the reading automatically, without the need for an employee to visit and read the meter. ‘Remote monitoring and control’ relates to the network itself: pumping stations, reservoirs and valves that are monitored and regulated from a control centre. The amount does not relate to the purchase of a new system but to the supervision, maintenance and spare parts for a system which, as the title suggests, already exists.
The previous phase: digital water meters
This expenditure follows the ‘Supply and installation of digital water meters in the existing water distribution networks of the Municipality of Spata–Artemida’. The contract with TH-F Anonymous Technical and Commercial Company was signed on 14 December 2022 and was due to expire in August 2024. It was extended twice by decisions of the Municipal Council (102/2024 and 212/2024) and was ultimately extended until 14 August 2025. In May 2025, its ninth invoice, amounting to 386,727.48 euros, was paid from special-purpose funds, i.e. money allocated specifically for this purpose.
The difference in funding is the point that warrants attention. At least the ninth invoice for the installation was paid from earmarked funds, whilst the running costs for the next three years, according to the figures in the new post, will be borne by the municipality’s own revenue. This is the ongoing cost that every ‘smart’ system leaves in its wake: the equipment requires monitoring, repairs and spare parts for as long as it remains in operation.
What is not yet known
The documents that have been published do not state how many water meters are connected to the system, in which neighbourhoods of Spata and Artemida they are located, nor whether water bills are already being issued based on the automatic readings.
Nor has any tender notice or contract award been published. For a sum of this magnitude, direct award is ruled out, as the threshold for services is 30,000 euros excluding VAT. A tender is therefore expected, unless the Municipality argues that only the manufacturer of the existing system is technically capable of maintaining it, in which case the law permits negotiation without publication. Which of these two paths will be taken will become clear in the next development, and iartemida.gr will be following the story.
Source: Municipality of Spata–Artemida, Mayor’s Decision No. 700/2026 (23/09/2026) and payment order for digital water meters (15/05/2025), as published on the Diaugia transparency portal.
