A new initiative, the “WATERWISE” project, is leveraging artificial intelligence and big data to combat Greece’s growing water scarcity issues. Led by scientists from the Democritus University of Thrace and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in collaboration with three IT companies, the project aims to create a strategic infrastructure for secure water management across the country.
The initiative comes as Greece faces intensified water imbalances, particularly during the high-demand summer tourist season. According to researchers, the project’s primary goal is to provide scientifically backed, realistic solutions for adapting to climate change.
Innovative tech to predict water demand
A key component of “WATERWISE” is an innovative digital platform that tracks water inflows and outflows for specific regions. The platform, which analyzes different climate scenarios, uses a prototype AI-based software to predict future water consumption for domestic, agricultural, and tourist needs.
According to Dimitris Emmanouloudis, a professor at the Democritus University of Thrace, a crucial parameter is calculating the water footprint of tourists, which is often an unknown variable.
To tackle this, the scientific team has created an online questionnaire for visitors, especially in island areas, to capture their consumption habits. The data collected from the questionnaire is fed into the “WATERWISE” platform, providing a more accurate picture of a region’s water balance and helping to forecast future needs.
Emmanouloudis explained that Greece currently consumes around 1.8 billion cubic meters of water annually—more than double the 800 million cubic meters used in 2000. “Today we don’t know how much water is missing or how much we’ll lack in five or ten years,” he said. “WATERWISE can tell us.”
Pilot regions and future goals
The project’s first phase focuses on six pilot regions: Santorini, Corfu, Chios, Fournoi of Ikaria, Thassos, and Drama. The data collected from these areas will inform the design of necessary infrastructure projects, such as rainwater collection systems or desalination plants.
Ultimately, the goal is to expand the “WATERWISE” project to the entire country, providing a strategic tool for addressing the water crisis and building resilience against the effects of climate change. Researchers believe the project’s combined use of data, AI, and predictive algorithms offers a powerful solution for sustainable water planning and management.
Related: Water Shortage in Greece a ‘Wake-up Call to Change Culture’
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