Editing Santorini (section)

== Infrastructure ==
=== Electricity ===
Electricity for both Santorini and Therasia is principally supplied from the Thira Autonomous Power Station which is located at Monolithos in the eastern part of Santorini. Owned by [[Public Power Corporation]] (PPC) it has generators powered by diesel engines and gas turbines. The two islands have a total installed capacity of 75.09 MW of thermal generation and 0.25 MW of renewable generation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GeoEnergy |first=Think |date=19 January 2018 |title=Greek island of Santorini partners with PPC Renewables on geothermal project {{!}} ThinkGeoEnergy – Geothermal Energy News |url=https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/greek-island-of-santorini-partners-with-ppc-renewables-on-geothermal-project/ |access-date=5 May 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=5 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505080122/https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/greek-island-of-santorini-partners-with-ppc-renewables-on-geothermal-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There is a programme underway at a cost of €124 million as part of the Cyclades Interconnection Project to connect the island via a submarine cable to Naxos and hence by extension to the mainland system by 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Santorini-Naxos grid link tender set to be announced by IPTO |publisher=Energy Press |date=29 December 2020 |url=https://energypress.eu/santorini-grid-link-project-with-naxos-set-to-be-announced-by-ipto/ |access-date=22 January 2021 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120200242/https://energypress.eu/santorini-grid-link-project-with-naxos-set-to-be-announced-by-ipto/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

A fire at the power station in Monolithos on 13 August 2018 put it out of service, resulting in a total loss of electricity supply across the two islands. Within four days electricity had been restored to all but 10% of the islands' consumers. Vessels were dispatched to carry two power generators to assist in supporting the restoration of the electricity supply.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interior, tourism ministers to Santorini to check power problems |publisher=[[Kathimerini]] |date=16 August 2013 |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/153034/article/ekathimerini/news/interior-tourism-ministers-to-santorini-to-check-power-problems |access-date=15 January 2021 |archive-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424165248/https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/153034/interior-tourism-ministers-to-santorini-to-check-power-problems/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Power supply returning to normal on Santorini |publisher=[[Kathimerini]] |date=17 August 2013 |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/153057/article/ekathimerini/news/power-supply-returning-to-normal-on-santorini |access-date=17 January 2021 |archive-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424165250/https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/153057/power-supply-returning-to-normal-on-santorini/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Electricity is distributed around the island by The Hellenic Electricity Distribution System Operator (HEDNO S.A. or DEDDIE S.A.) which is a 100% owned subsidiary of PPC. A cable connects the Thirasia and Santorini electrical distribution systems.

=== Transportation ===
The central bus station is in Fira, the capital of the island, where buses depart very frequently. They cover routes to almost all places around the island and to most tourist spots.

Apart from its connection with other Cyclades islands, Santorini is also connected by ferry with Piraeus on a daily basis all year long, with up to 5 direct crossings during summer.

==== Airport ====
[[File:Santorini Airport.JPG|thumb|Santorini airport viewed from ancient Thera]]
{{See also|Santorini (Thira) International Airport}}
Santorini is one of the few [[Cyclades]] Islands with a major airport, which lies about {{cvt|6|km|0}} southeast of downtown Thera. The main asphalt runway (16L-34R) is {{cvt|2125|m|0|abbr=off}} in length, and the parallel taxiway was built to runway specification (16R-34L). It can accommodate [[Boeing 757]], [[Boeing 737]], [[Airbus A320]] series, [[Avro RJ]], [[Fokker 70]], and [[ATR 72]] aircraft. Scheduled airlines include the new [[Olympic Air]], [[Aegean Airlines]], [[Ryanair]], and Sky Express, with flights chartered from other airlines during the summer, and with transport to and from the air terminal available through buses, taxis, hotel car-pickups, and hire cars.

==== Land ====
Bus services link Fira to most parts of the island.<ref>{{cite web |title=Santorini Public Buses |url=https://www.ktel-santorini.gr/index.php/en/ |website=www.ktel-santorini.gr |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-date=15 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615222444/https://www.ktel-santorini.gr/index.php/en/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==== Ports ====
[[File:Santorini cruise ships in caldera.jpg|thumbnail|Ferry and cruise ship in the caldera 2013]]
Santorini has two ports: [[Athinios (Santorini)|Athinios]] (Ferry Port) and Skala (Old Port).<ref name="athiniosprt">{{cite web|url=https://www.santorini-port.com|title=Athinios Ferry Port in Santorini|website=santorini-port.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425180027/https://www.santorini-port.com/|archive-date=25 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="santoriniports">{{cite web|url=https://www.santoriniports.gov.gr/en|title=Municipal Port Fund of Thira (Santorini Port Authority) - Ship Traffic (Live Map)|publisher=Municipal Port Fund of Thira|language=el, en|website=santoriniports.gov.gr|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250425175335/https://www.santoriniports.gov.gr/en|archive-date=25 April 2025}}</ref> Cruise ships anchor off Skala and passengers are transferred by local boatmen to shore at Skala where Fira is accessed by [[Santorini cable car|cable car]], on foot or by donkeys and mules. The use of donkeys for tourist transportation has attracted significant criticism from animal rights organisations for animal abuse and neglect, including failure to provide the donkeys with sufficient water or rest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greek island accused of abusing its star attraction: donkeys |url=https://www.dw.com/en/greek-island-accused-of-abusing-its-star-attraction-donkeys/a-49480177 |date=8 July 2019 |website=DW.COM |language=en-GB |access-date=11 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708171609/https://www.dw.com/en/greek-island-accused-of-abusing-its-star-attraction-donkeys/a-49480177 |url-status=live}}</ref> Tour boats depart from Skala for Nea Kameni and other Santorini destinations.<ref name="athiniosprt"/><ref name="santoriniports"/>   

=== Water and sewerage ===
As the island lies in a rain shadow between the mountains of Crete and the Peloponnese water seems to have been scarce at least from post-eruption times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Santorini Water Museum, Greece |publisher=Water Museums |date=25 July 1995 |url=https://www.watermuseums.net/museum/church-of-panaghia-episkopi-cistern-and-water-walks/ |access-date=15 January 2021 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120172913/https://www.watermuseums.net/museum/church-of-panaghia-episkopi-cistern-and-water-walks/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> This, combined with the small size of the island, the lack of rivers, and the nature of the soil, which is largely composed of volcanic ash, as well as the high summer temperatures meant that there was very little surface water.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bitis |first=Ioannis |title=Water supply methods in Ancient Thera: the case of the sanctuary of Apollo Karneios |journal=Water Supply |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=638–645 |year=2013 |doi=10.2166/ws.2013.017 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269599347}}</ref> With only one spring (Zoodochos Pigi – the Life-giving Spring) this encouraged the practice of diverting any rain that fell on roofs and courtyards to elaborate underground cisterns, supplemented in the 20th century with water imported from other areas of Greece. Owing to the lack of water islanders developed non-irrigated crops such as vines and olives that could survive on only the scant moisture provided by the common early-morning fog condensing on the ground as [[dew]].

Many cisterns ceased to be used following the 1956 earthquake. As tourism increased, the existing [[rainwater harvesting]] methods proved incapable of supplying the increased demand. As a result, it has become necessary to construct [[desalination]] plants which now provide running but non-potable water to most residents. This has led to many of the historic cisterns falling into disrepair.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Enriquez |first1=Jared |last2=Tipping |first2=David C. |last3=Lee |first3=Jung-Ju |last4=Vijay |first4=Abhinav |last5=Kenny |first5=Laura |last6=Chen |first6=Susan |last7=Mainas |first7=Nikolaos |last8=Holst-Warhaft |first8=Gail |last9=Steenhuis |first9=Tammo |title=Water Management in the Tourism Economy: Linking the Mediterranean's Traditional Rainwater Cisterns to Modern Needs |journal=Water |volume=9 |issue=11 |year=2017 |doi=10.3390/w9110868 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320939498 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

The first desalination plant was built at Oia following a donation in 1992 by the Oia-born businessman [[Aristeidis Alafouzos]]. By 2003 the plant had expanded to house three desalination units (of which two had been donated by Alafouzos).<ref>{{cite web |title=Santorini: Bottled drinking water |publisher=[[Kathimerini]] |date=30 July 2003 |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/16112/article/ekathimerini/news/santorini-bottled-drinking-water |access-date=20 January 2021 |archive-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424165325/https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/16112/santorini-bottled-drinking-water/ |url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2020 the plant has six desalination units with a total capacity of {{cvt|2800|m3}} per day.<ref name= DEYATH>{{cite web |title=Desalination Deva Thira |publisher=DEYA Thira |date=2020 |url=https://deyathira.gr/afalatoseis-deya-thiras/ |access-date=18 January 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125185856/https://deyathira.gr/afalatoseis-deya-thiras/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition to Oia there are currently desalination plants at Aghia Paraskevi, located on the southwest side of the airport with a capacity of {{cvt|5000|m3}} per day which supplies Kamari, Vothonas, Messaria, Exo Gonia, Mesa Gonia, Agia Paraskevi, and Monolithos;<ref>{{cite web |last=Solaris |first=Giorgos |title=Tender for the supply and installation of new desalination plants in Exo Gialos Fira, Santorini |language=el|date=27 May 2020 |url=https://cyclades24.gr/2020/05/prokiryssete-i-promithia-ke-egkatastasi-neon-monadon-afalatosis-exo-gialou-firon-santorinis/ |access-date=1 March 2025 }}</ref> Fira with a capacity of {{cvt|1200|m3}} per day;<ref name= DEYATH /> Akrotiri (also known as the Cape) which has two units with a total capacity of {{cvt|650|m3}} per day;<ref name= DEYATH /> Exo Gialos which has two units with a total capacity of {{cvt|2000|m3}} per day which supplies Fira, Imerovigli, Karteradou, Pyrgos, Megalochori and Vourvoulou; and Therasia which has two TEMAK units with a total capacity of {{cvt|350|m3}} per day.<ref name=DEYATH />

There are also a number of small autonomous drinking water production units with a capacity of {{cvt|6|m3}} per day located at Kamari, Emporio, Messaria and Thirasia Island.<ref name= DEYATH />

The provision of water supply and sewage treatment and disposal on both Santorini and Therasia Islands is undertaken by the municipally owned DEYA Thiras. It was founded in May 2011, after the merging of the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Thera (DEYA Thera) and the Community Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Oia ({{lang|el|K .Ε.Υ.Α. Οίας}}). Known as DEYATH it is responsible for the planning, construction, management, operation and maintenance of the water supply system (desalination plants and pumping wells), irrigation, drainage, and the wastewater collection networks and treatment plants for the islands of Thira (Santorini) and Therasia. The Loulas and Evangelos Nomikos Foundation has funded a number of projects aimed at improving the water supply and sewage systems on the islands.