Just weeks after Greece was hit by its earliest heat wave in June, parts of the country are facing a new crisis: severe water shortages. A state of emergency has been declared in Sifnos in the Cyclades, Leros in the Dodecanese Islands, Sami in Kefalonia and parts of Crete. Authorities and locals are demanding urgent intervention as water supplies run dry, reports euronews.com.
Water levels are also low on the Attica peninsula, which encompasses Athens. On the island of Naxos in the South Aegean, the largest reservoir has dried up due to low rainfall and hot weather, reports Reuters.
Last month was the warmest June globally and the 13th consecutive month with record temperatures, according to the European Copernicus Climate Office. It also marked the 12th consecutive month in which the world has been 1,5C warmer than pre-industrial levels - extremes linked to human-caused emissions.
What is behind the water shortage in Greece?
Little or no rainfall in recent months, combined with scorching temperatures of up to 40C, has led to the problem, which has been exacerbated by poor infrastructure and a lack of maintenance of the islands' desalination plants.
Forest fires have further added to the problem in some regions, with the June fire on Serifos destroying part of the island's water supply network. The island is now facing its lowest water supply in 20 years.
With water supply and irrigation needs at their peak, farmers are hit particularly hard as dams fail to meet their needs. Some are forced to rely on wells contaminated with seawater due to low water levels.
Tourist infrastructure puts a strain on resources in the peak summer season
As the busy tourist season continues, visitor infrastructure also strains resources. Some islands have already taken matters into their own hands, with Karpathos and Serifos imposing restrictions on topping up swimming pools. In Vianos, Crete, strict restrictions have been placed on the use of water for irrigation.
The small island of Lipsi in the Dodecanese went one step further by banning the construction of swimming pools in the hot summer of 2023 to encourage a more sustainable approach to tourism. Meanwhile, the northern island of Thassos is investing in a desalination plant to make seawater drinkable.
In places where a state of emergency has been declared, the processes for transferring water, improving supplies and accessing government funding have been accelerated. Three new wells are planned in Crete, while the navy has sent water to Leros, according to local news reports.