Greece has announced a €2.5 billion plan over the next decade to combat the growing threat of water shortages, particularly in Athens and surrounding regions, the government revealed on Thursday.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke during the centenary celebrations of Eydap, one of the country’s largest public water utilities, warning that Greece must prepare for all possible scenarios as climate pressures mount.
Following a decline in water reserves, Energy and Environment Minister Stavros Papastavrou presented the ten-year plan aimed at safeguarding the country’s water resources.
The minister highlighted a major project to reinforce the reservoirs supplying Athens and announced new desalination facilities for the country’s popular tourist islands, where demand for water surges during peak seasons.
According to Papastavrou, Greece’s water reserves have dropped by around 250 million cubic metres per year, compounded by a 25% decrease in rainfall and a 15% annual increase in water evaporation.
