Attica Near ‘Zero Point’ as Water Reserves Plunge

Officials warn that if existent trends continue, Athens could look terrible shortages within two years.

The superior is approaching a captious water shortage, with reservoir levels crossed Attica — the portion surrounding the Greek superior — dropping to historical lows, sparking alarm among authorities. According to the Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYDAP), arsenic of October 27, 2025, the area’s 4 reservoirs contained little than 380 cardinal cubic meters of water, astir 25% of their total capacity.

Nearly three-quarters of the reservoirs are present empty, and water levels person fallen 37% successful the past year — a complaint that experts accidental could permission the portion without sufficient reserves within the adjacent two years. The authorities is expected to denote exigency measures soon, perchance by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself.

A worsening clime outlook

The situation comes arsenic Greece ranks 19th worldwide in water scarcity risk, according to planetary indicators. Experts warn that the clime situation is amplifying drought conditions crossed southern Europe, turning rainfall patterns progressively erratic.

Rather than steady rain, short, aggravated storms are becoming much common, preventing the soil from absorbing water efficiently. Meanwhile, reduced snowfall — a vital semipermanent water source for rivers, lakes, and aquifers — is further straining supply.

Aging infrastructure and waste

Beyond clime factors, overmuch of Greece’s water stress is owed to infrastructure problems and wasteful consumption. The OECD estimates that up to 30% of water is mislaid done leaks and amerciable use successful the country’s outdated networks. Inefficient irrigation practices — such arsenic sprinkling alternatively of drip irrigation — besides waste important volumes of freshwater.

Another origin is tourism, which has surged dramatically successful caller years. According to a Deloitte study, water use for municipality supply has accrued by astir 150% since 2000, particularly successful Athens, present a year-round planetary destination.

Vanishing rivers and municipality expansion

Experts besides constituent to decades of urbanization that person dramatically altered Athens’ earthy water landscape. A study by the National Technical University of Athens shows that unfastened streams erstwhile stretched 1,280 kilometers successful 1945, but today measurement conscionable 434 kilometers — a 66% reduction.

Similarly, information from Greece’s Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) uncover that while 80% of rainwater erstwhile soaked into the ground, present 80% runs disconnected to the sea. The widespread covering and infilling of rivers for lodging and roads has accelerated the problem. Once the capital’s main river, the Ilissos present flows wholly underground, beneath engaged metropolis streets.

After World War II, lone 25% of Attica was built-up; today that fig has risen to 75%, leaving small country for earthy water absorption and storage.

Regional parallels: Turkey’s utmost drought

Greece is not unsocial successful facing an acute water shortage. Turkey, too, is grappling with depleted reservoirs — astir bare successful Izmir, astatine 25% capableness successful Istanbul, and conscionable 16% successful Ankara. Turkish authorities are adjacent considering “cloud seeding”, a weather modification technique used to trigger rainfall by dispersing particles into the atmosphere.

According to meteorologist Orhan Şen, if applied correctly, the process tin make rainfall within 20 minutes, lasting astir an hour. The method was used successfully during Turkey’s 1993 drought and is present deployed successful astir 50 countries, though Şen cautioned it offers lone a partial and temporary solution.

An urgent telephone for sustainable action

As Attica edges toward “zero point,” experts warn that two oregon three consecutive adust years could propulsion the system past recovery. Sustainable water absorption — from fixing infrastructure leaks to harnessing rainfall — has go an urgent priority.

Source: tovima.com