EditGreece unveils urgent reforms to combat escalating water crisis in Athens
Key initiatives include expanding seawater desalination plants to bolster water supply
Greece is grappling with a severe water crisis, intensified by climate change and extreme weather, prompting the government to announce sweeping reforms to secure water resources, particularly for the capital, Athens.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing a government meeting on long-term water management strategies, revealed that reservoir levels supplying Athens have plummeted by 50% compared to previous years, signaling the acute severity of the crisis, as reported by Kathimerini.
Mitsotakis underscored Greece’s vulnerability, ranking 19th globally among countries at risk of water shortages, according to official data. The nation has faced unprecedented climatic challenges, with 2024 recording the warmest winter and summer on record. Prolonged droughts, with some regions seeing no rainfall for months, have driven dam levels to historic lows, threatening not only drinking water supplies but also hydropower generation critical for electricity production.
These conditions reflect a broader trend of extreme weather across the Mediterranean, where rising temperatures and erratic precipitation patterns, driven by climate change, are straining water resources.
The crisis in Athens, home to nearly a third of Greece’s population, is particularly alarming. The city’s primary reservoirs, such as those fed by the Mornos and Evinos rivers, are depleting rapidly, raising concerns about potential water rationing if conditions persist. The agricultural sector, a cornerstone of Greece’s economy, is also under strain, with irrigation shortages threatening crop yields in regions like Attica and Thessaly. These challenges are compounded by systemic inefficiencies, with approximately 50% of drinking water lost to leaks and theft – nearly double the European Union average.
To address the crisis, the government is prioritizing innovative and sustainable solutions. Key initiatives include expanding seawater desalination plants to bolster water supply, particularly for coastal areas like Athens. Advanced technologies for water recycling and reuse are also being developed to reduce waste and maximize available resources.
Additionally, the government is exploring the integration of dozens of coastal springs as alternative water sources to diversify supply chains. Over 1,200 water infrastructure projects are currently underway, focusing on modernizing irrigation systems and upgrading aging pipelines to curb losses.
A significant aspect of the reform plan involves restructuring Greece’s fragmented water sector. The government aims to merge hundreds of heavily indebted local water utilities into a more efficient, centralized system to improve management and reduce operational losses.
Mitsotakis emphasized that these reforms require not only technological innovation but also strong political will and coordination across institutions to ensure long-term sustainability.
The water crisis in Greece is part of a broader European challenge, with nearly 40% of the EU’s population affected by climate-related water scarcity. The Mediterranean region, including Greece, is a climate change hotspot, experiencing warming at a rate 20% faster than the global average, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Extreme weather events, such as prolonged heatwaves and reduced rainfall, are projected to intensify, further straining water resources. In Greece, these conditions have already led to devastating wildfires and agricultural losses, amplifying the urgency of proactive measures.
Mitsotakis described water management as a “strategic priority” for Greece, warning that inaction could have dire consequences for public health, economic stability, and energy security. The government’s reforms aim to build resilience against the escalating impacts of climate change, ensuring that Athens and other regions can adapt to a future of increasing environmental uncertainty.
Caption: Tourists wear hats and use fans and umbrellas as they stroll in the city center during a heatwave, in Athens, Greece, 20 July 2025. An intense heatwave with temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius in some locations is expected in Greece and parts of the Balkans from Monday 21 July, according to a forecast issued by the National Observatory of Athens weather service. EPA/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU
Updated: August 4, 2025 - 05:55
