A prolonged drought, that has gripped Greece since the summer of 2024, is raising serious concerns of a potential water crisis ahead of the 2025 summer season, as alarmingly low water levels at Lake Marathon—a freshwater reservoir supplying Athens—have been observed the past few weeks.
Recent reports highlighting a visible islet emerging from Lake Marathon’s declining waters and the persistent lack of rainfall in the country has renewed concerns about the summer months ahead.
However, Marathon’s Deputy Mayor, Christos Stamos, sought to reassure the public, telling Greek broadcaster ERT: “The declining water level in Marathon Lake is expected for an artificial reservoir. Although there is always concern due to the ongoing lack of rainfall, Lake Marathon serves primarily as an auxiliary reservoir. Athens receives most of its water from other sources like the Mornos and Evinos reservoirs.”
Despite official attempts to ease concerns, the public remains uneasy about what lies ahead.
Greece’s main water sources include the reservoirs of Mornos, Evinos, Marathon Lake, Yliki, and the Palaio Souvala Springs. According to Stamos, these reservoirs are interconnected, and water levels fluctuate based on management decisions and current demand.
File photo: The dry shore of Lake Yliki, water supplier of Greek capital Athens, on Sunday 03 June 2001.
The water level in the lake has dropped due to climatic changes in terms of less rainfalls and rise of temperature. Scientists expressed their worries for the continuous lack of drinking water in Greece once again on Tuesday 05 June 2001, the international day of environment. EPA PHOTO/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU
Yet, managing Greece’s water resources has become increasingly challenging due to significant infrastructure issues, notably water leakages and outdated piping systems. Government data indicates that approximately 50% of Greece’s drinking water is lost due to leakages, highlighting a critical infrastructure gap exacerbated by the financial crisis of the past decade.
Despite Greece investing over $1.5 billion in water infrastructure since 2009, significant challenges persist. A region of the Peloponnese called Argolida, for example, loses about one-third of its drinking water due to outdated pipe networks, reflecting broader systemic problems.
Petros Varelidis, General Secretary for Water Resources at the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, acknowledged the severity of the issue, noting, “In some areas, water leakage is extensive, causing major problems for local communities.”
This issue is not unique to Greece. Across the EU, drought affects approximately one-third of the population annually, according to the European Environment Agency. Member states now face a deadline to evaluate and address water leakage issues before legally binding limits are enforced.
In response, Greece recently announced €18 million in funding for 19 municipalities to support critical projects aimed at tackling water shortages. Priority initiatives include installing desalination units and drilling wells to enhance supply.
The ongoing drought, now affecting agricultural yields and threatening industrial productivity, underlines the urgency for improved water management and investment in infrastructure maintenance across Greece and Europe as a whole.
