Measures to tackle Attica water shortage

[File photo, Giannis Papanikos/AP]

Measures were announced connected Tuesday to tackle aboriginal h2o shortages successful Attica arsenic the reservoirs of the Evinos and Mornos rivers are astatine historically debased levels. More specifically, Attica volition person capable h2o for 4 years if the drought of the past 2 years continues, according to announcement by the Environment Ministry and the authorities h2o institution (EYDAP). As a result, EYDAP has begun drilling successful Attica and Viotia, is utilizing Lake Yliki, and is considering diverting h2o to the rivers that provender Kremasta Lake, arsenic good arsenic establishing a desalination plant.

“The h2o proviso strategy is designed truthful that the reservoirs’ reserves bash not decrease. However, successful the past 2 years, owed to the drought, the reserves person decreased from 1,158,127 cardinal cubic meters successful August 2022 to 703,339 cardinal cubic meters successful August 2024, an mean of astir 225 cardinal cubic meters per year,” the Environment Ministry said successful a statement.

EYDAP’s reserves reached a historical debased of 136 cardinal cubic meters successful 1993, prompting the operation of the Evinos dam and the Evinos-Mornos passageway to buttress the reserves of the second from the former. Record reserves were recorded successful 2019, erstwhile the capital’s h2o reserves reached 1.2 cardinal cubic meters of water. 

For its part, the Environment Ministry is cautiously optimistic that the contented tin beryllium managed.

“EYDAP, according to its planning, has already activated further sources of h2o supply, with the reopening of 17 boreholes, chiefly successful the country of Mavrosovala, and volition activate boreholes successful the mediate of the Viotian Kifissos basin, portion h2o is besides present being pumped from Yliki, which until present was a reserve reservoir. These actions volition lend astir 75 cardinal cubic meters per year,” the announcement said.