The water crisis in Greece is getting worse

• Serious drop in water levels in Aposelemis Dam and other major reservoirs.
• High temperatures and low rainfall are exacerbating the water crisis.
• 14 municipalities, including five in Crete, declared a state of emergency.
• Immediate need for efficient water management and conservation measures

The scientific community is urgently concerned about a severe water shortage across Greece, exacerbated by persistently high temperatures and reduced rainfall. As the peak of the summer tourist season approaches, the situation is becoming even more critical.

Deplorable conditions in several regions

The General Secretariat of Civil Protection has declared 14 municipalities in a state of emergency: five in Crete, Serifos, Sifnos, Leros, Poros and Spetses, and areas in Corinth, Alexandroupoli and Xanthi. Rainfall in eastern Greece has dropped by 40-50% this year, with Attica experiencing a 45% drop and some parts of Crete a 60% reduction.

Maria Mimikou, emeritus professor at the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, explained to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency that water scarcity can exist without drought. Inefficient water use and prolonged dry years exacerbate the situation.

“There is an urgent need for improved water management,” says Ms. Mimikou. “We need to use better pumping methods, especially in agricultural irrigation, to increase water use efficiency.”

Striking satellite observations highlight water crisis

Satellite data from the BEYOND Operational Unit of the IAADET/EAA show a significant decrease in water levels at the Aposelemis Dam in Crete and Lake Mornos in Central Greece. For example, the surface of Lake Mornos is expected to shrink by 15-20% between 2023 and 2024.

Both figures above illustrate the drop in water level from 2022 to 2024, with a difference in area of ​​approximately 4,700 hectares for Mornos and 600 hectares for Aposelemi.

The water levels of the artificial lake Pinios in Ilia are also worryingly low due to the lack of rain and high temperatures. Since 2010, the area of ​​Pinios has decreased by 35-40% compared to the average, a situation that is further exacerbated by persistent below-average rainfall and increasing evaporation rates due to heat waves.

Stavros Dafis, a physicist-meteorologist, notes that while conditions are not as severe as the 2008 water crisis, they could become even worse in the coming months if immediate action is not taken. “We are already at a critical point, with water reserves in Athens approaching their limit. Urgent measures to save water, especially in agriculture, are essential.”

Call for immediate action

The ongoing water crisis requires urgent government intervention and effective water management strategies, which are needed for regions across Greece to avoid severe water shortages that threaten daily life and agricultural productivity.

Immediate measures are needed to ensure sustainable water use and prevent this critical situation from recurring in the coming years.