Water treatment

The public water company (EYDAP) announced the launch of an ambitious project to draw water through tunnels from two rivers in Evrytania, central Greece, to fill the artificial lake Evinos.

Changes to the way water is priced were announced by the Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakis, who, along with the management of EYDAP, presented the government’s plan to address the water scarcity, which was announced at the TIF by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Measures were announced on Tuesday to tackle future water shortages in Attica as the reservoirs of the Evinos and Mornos rivers are at historically low levels. More specifically, Attica will have enough water for four years if the drought of the last two years continues, according to announcement by the Environment Ministry and the state water company (EYDAP).

Greece is grappling with a severe water shortage that impacts both its islands and mainland, according to Kathimerini.

Scientists are focussing on seven Greek islands under the microscope, namely Agathonisi, Amorgos, Thasos, Kassos, Serios, Sifnos, and Paxos to calculate their current needs in terms of future water demand.

The Ministry of the Interior is allocating 11.25 million euros to combat water scarcity through grants to municipalities, municipal companies and water associations. 

Authorities in the tourism hotspot of the southern province of Mugla's Bodrum district are mulling over seawater desalination due to low dam water levels, but experts warn this could result in permanent groundwater salinization and pose significant environmental risks.

The scientific community is sounding the alarm over the water scarcity alert that has been sounded in many parts of the country. A total of 14 municipalities in the country have been declared a state of emergency by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection.

Emergency measures to address water scarcity and climate risks are being activated by EYDAP to address the rapid decline in reservoir supplies and the increased demand for water brought on by severe drought and rapidly rising temperatures.

The nightmare of no rain and severe drought, which deprives the EYDAP reservoirs of rainwater and precious snow that are the main water sources, looms over Attica again, creating a besieged situation on the islands preparing for a difficult summer.