Environmental abuse
The lake of Piso Livadi, close to Marpessa, was part of the area’s rainwater harvesting system. However, in 1995, private investors from Athens bought a close by land with the intention to build residential homes and shops there. This constitutes a great environmental abuse and a danger for the area and the surrounding settlements. Although the lake was dry in summer, in winter it was used to gather the water from rainfalls.
In January 2007, surrounding homes were flooded because the lake had been filled in with constructions. 25 inhabitants asked the building authority to stop the constructions in the lake. However, the municipality of Paros decided not to stop building but instead to enlarge the rainwater channel, so that the building works would not be prevented. The investors continue to fill in the lake and another environmental crime is committed with no shame.