Client:  Municipality of Sidirokastro, Prefecture of Serres
Year:    1997

ISSUE
The purpose of the project was the preparation of the environmental impact assessment for the operation of the existing complex (hotel, spa, restaurant), the under construction part (new hotel, new spa) and the associated projects (wastewater treatment plant for the entire complex) in the vicinity of hot springs in Sidirokastro Municipality.                                                                                         Hotel Complex View

 SOLUTION                                                                                                                          
The complex is located in a private estate which occupies an area of 18.6 hectares, north of Sidirokastro adjacent to the national highway of Serres – Promachona, at the junction towards Kilkis.
The Baths of Sidirokastro operate since 1920, while at the beginning of 1994 the spa was modernized and now poses a clinic, reception area-waiting room, male and female changing rooms, swimming pool, private baths. The two old buildings – hostels were renovated and now function as C and E class hotels. In order to meet the growing demands for beds and bathtubs capacity, the construction of the new hotel and spa was initiated, which were upon the stage of completion when the design phase began. Moreover, a Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) was designed to address the issue of wastewater management for the entire facility.
The existing facilities are:

• Class C’ Hotels (two renovated old buildings), with a capacity of 24 three-bedrooms each
• Class C’ Hotels (one old renovated building) with a capacity of 48 double-bedrooms
• Restaurant (existing building) with a capacity of 300 people
• Spa (existing building) with a capacity of 400 bathers. The spa features as already mentioned, a fully equipped clinic, reception area-waiting room, male and female changing rooms, male and female physiotherapy rooms and common and private baths.

The medicinal water originates from natural springs and wells, drilled by IGME for that purpose, and baths are proposed as a remedy for rheumatic diseases, rheumatisms, slipped disks, muscle aches, sciatica, lumbago, etc.
The units under construction are the following:

• New hotel with basement, ground floor and three floors. Each of the three floors will include 16 double-bed rooms, hall, storage area and cloakroom. The basement features utility rooms (boiler room, storage rooms, ironing equipment, pumping station etc.) The ground floor has a reception and information desk, office desk, accounts department, call center, mail room, hall, lounge, toilets, restaurant – bar and kitchen
• New spa with a capacity of 500 bathers featuring all the aforementioned services of the existing spa, including an outdoor swimming pool

The complex is surrounded by artificial pine grove.
As far as the WWTP is concerned, it adopted the treatment process of activated sludge with extended aeration. Upon completion of these projects the complex will be able to operate throughout the year.
In the accounted study the exact locations of the construction works were identified while the current situation was analyzed, investigating the state of the natural and human environment. At the same time significant information was offered with respect to the feasibility of the works along with their analytical description. Finally, the extent and size of the caused environmental annoyance from the construction and operation of the works was described, while appropriate methods to treat environmental impacts during construction and operation phase were provided.

BENEFIT
The project was submitted to the public agency responsible for issuing the required Environmental Permit. The project contributed to the development of Hot Springs of Sidirokastro.