The government of Greece convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to tackle the growing water scarcity crisis. According to data presented at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, water levels in Greek dams are at historic lows, with reserves in Attica alone having plummeted by over 50 percent since 2022.
Ministers agreed on the urgent need for a national plan and reforms to improve supply management. The discussions highlighted the importance of addressing pressing demands now while simultaneously preparing for the significant challenges expected over the next three decades.
Mitsotakis firmly reiterated that water is, and will remain, a public good and a vital resource, and he emphasized the necessity of treating it as such.
The alarming reality of water resources in Greece
During the meeting, comprehensive scientific data highlighted the severe magnitude of the water scarcity problem, exacerbated by the climate crisis across Mediterranean countries. Europe, notably, is warming at a faster rate than any other continent. The data presented painted a stark picture for Greece, which ranks 19th globally for water scarcity risk.
For the Athens metropolitan area (Attica), home to approximately half of Greece’s population, solutions have been urgently sought since last autumn. The capital’s primary reservoirs—Mornos, Evinos, Marathonas, and Yliki—currently hold enough water for a maximum of two years, highlighting the precariousness of the situation. This grim scenario is mirrored across other regions of the country.
Given these alarming conditions, the government has decided on a comprehensive and unified approach to water management, shifting away from the current fragmented system across various agencies. The aim is a radical overhaul of the country’s water management model, transitioning to a more functional, efficient, and investment-driven system. This new strategy will leverage innovative technologies and complementary water production methods, such as desalination, recycling, and reuse.
Five pillars of the national water plan
The national plan is built upon five main pillars, expected to be elaborated upon further in the near future. These pillars are:
- Water as a public good: Affirming that water remains a public good, consistent with the Constitution and Council of State rulings.
- Sustainable infrastructure: Ensuring sustainable water supply, irrigation, and sewage companies, with an emphasis on maintaining acceptable costs for all users.
- Integrated management: Implementing comprehensive planning and centralized management for all water projects, regardless of size.
- Immediate action and awareness: Launching urgent initiatives within the next six months, coupled with a public information and awareness campaign.
- Technological advancement: Utilizing new technologies and alternative water production methods like desalination, recycling, and wastewater reuse.
Ongoing and future investments
It was also noted that this new plan will provide a robust framework for existing projects and those currently under study.
Presently, over 1,200 water management and utilization projects are underway across Greece, comprising 1,090 related to water supply and 237 for irrigation. These add to the 278 projects completed since 2019. However, officials made it clear that despite these efforts, further investments and additional coordinated actions are evidently crucial to effectively address this major social and national issue.
Related: Greece’s Growing Thirst: The Looming Water Scarcity
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
