Greece may be wet, but it’s still thirsty

Preservation of water, a precious commodity for country’s life and economy, plagued by irresponsible management despite clear EU directives

By Tania Georgiopoulou, Stavros Tzimas, Giorgos Lialios & Effi Hadzioannidou - Kathimerini

Greece is not lacking water in terms of quantity and quality. At a time when all developed states are doing their utmost to preserve precious and quickly disappearing water resources, Greeks are letting water drain away. Even as the EU’s Damocles’ Sword hovers menacingly over their heads with set deadlines and specific directives, little is being done to protect this vital resource.

Although there is water in Greece, most of the country’s districts have shortages due to a lack of management. Athens has to obtain water supplies from further and further afield. Farmers in Thessaly, who learned to waste and then fight for water, now await the diversion of the Acheloos River. The country’s rivers have been turned into dumping grounds for industrial waste. In over 25 cities, toxic substances flow from taps in homes and nothing is being done to combat the problem. Seaside areas have to make do with bottled mineral water, whereas tourists on the islands are forced to limit bathing to set times. Yet annual rainfall in Greece amounts to 800 mm when in Spain it is 636 mm, in Cyprus 498 mm and in Egypt 51 mm. In the meantime, those responsible are scrambling to secure the post of water management as if it was a trophy, forgetting the responsibility involved, until the next drought hits or the EU again slams the country for negligence.