Athens (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Greece has declared a water emergency in the greater Athens area and two islands to accelerate infrastructure projects and combat the growing risk of chronic drought.
The environment ministry announced late Friday that the measure also includes the Aegean islands of Patmos and Leros, as water reserves in the capital have been decreasing by about 250 million cubic meters annually since 2022.
A ministry source informed the state agency ANA that the decision
“prioritises the implementation of critical infrastructure projects.”
No restrictions on consumer consumption have been announced for now.
What factors are driving Greece’s accelerating drought crisis?
The Athens water supply and sewerage company (EYDAP) reports that over the past three years, Greece has experienced a roughly 25 percent decline in annual rainfall, a 15 percent increase in evaporation, and approximately a six percent rise in water consumption.
Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou stated on Skai TV on Friday that the reserves for the greater Athens area are about 400 million cubic metres, with annual consumption roughly 250 million cubic metres.
“There is no more room to postpone difficult decisions,”
the minister said.
“In areas where water consumption increases significantly due to tourism, greater attention and planning are needed to avoid situations in the summer that cannot be dealt with,”
he added.
Ministry sources indicate that scientific studies reveal Greece is undergoing a prolonged drought, similar to the crisis experienced between 1988 and 1994.
What long-term solutions is Greece planning for water security?
Last month, the Greek government announced a plan to invest around 2.5 billion euros in water infrastructure over the next decade. This plan involves diverting two tributaries of the River Achelous in western Greece, along with drilling and desalination initiatives, Reuters reported.
Much of Greece, located on Europe’s warmest southern tip and consuming around 10 billion cubic metres of water annually, has experienced scorching summers and winters with minimal or no rainfall in recent years. Scientists link these patterns to the rapidly warming climate.
The Achelous tributary project, valued at 500 million euros, is scheduled for completion by 2029. Additionally, more than 150 other projects, totaling over 320 million euros, are currently in progress across over 40 islands, as reported by the environment ministry.
