Greece Faces Water Crisis Amid Drought And Tourism Boom

A grasshopper stands on the dried out Lake Picrolimni, in the village of Mikrokampos, northern Greece, Aug. 19, 2024. A severe drought in northern Greece, worsened by successive heatwaves and low rain

Six weeks before harvest, farmers in northern Greece are facing a severe water crisis as the region grapples with a prolonged drought. The lack of rainfall for up to three years has left the ground parched, forcing farmers like Dimitris Papadakis to resort to extreme measures to save their crops.

Papadakis, along with his son, now transports water from distant areas to irrigate their olive grove, as their boreholes have almost dried up. The situation is dire, with groundwater levels dwindling and becoming brackish, leading to an expected 50% reduction in yield for Papadakis' 270 olive trees.

The water scarcity has been further exacerbated by a surge in tourism, particularly in areas like Halkidiki, where the population swells significantly during the summer months. This influx of visitors has placed unsustainable pressure on already strained water resources, resulting in a 30-40% reduction in water supply in some regions.

Local residents, such as Haroula Psaropoulou, are feeling the impact of the water crisis firsthand, with frequent household water cuts lasting up to five days. Psaropoulou has resorted to recycling water for various purposes, highlighting the challenges faced by communities in coping with the scarcity.

Farmers resorting to extreme measures like transporting water to save crops.

Drought in northern Greece affecting farmers six weeks before harvest.

Groundwater levels dwindling, leading to expected 50% reduction in olive tree yield.

Tourism surge exacerbating water scarcity, causing 30-40% reduction in supply.

Local residents experiencing frequent water cuts, resorting to water recycling.

Lakes drying up, wildlife dying, and landscapes turning barren due to drought.

Experts emphasize urgent need for conservation, storage, and reuse of water resources.

Professor advocates for modernizing water management practices to mitigate drought impact.

Call for proactive measures to adapt to water scarcity and address climate change effects.

Situation highlights the critical importance of addressing climate change's impact on water resources.

Across the region, lakes have dried up, wild horses are dying due to lack of freshwater, and once-popular destinations like Lake Picrolimni have turned into barren landscapes. Experts warn that urgent action is needed to address the root causes of the crisis, emphasizing the importance of conservation, storage, and reuse of water resources.

Professor Konstantinos S. Voudouris underscores the need for modernizing water management practices to mitigate the impact of climate change-induced droughts. He advocates for improved infrastructure to collect and store rainwater, as well as the reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural purposes.

As northern Greece grapples with the devastating effects of the ongoing drought, local officials and experts are calling for proactive measures to adapt to the new reality of water scarcity. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and its repercussions on water resources.