Water Under Pressure — Athens on Alert
Athens is entering a period of severe hydrological stress, with reservoir levels dropping to historic lows and climate data pointing to a potential water shortage within two years.
The warning comes directly from EYDAP, Greece’s state-owned water utility, whose CEO Haris Sachinis has sounded the alarm:Without faster project implementation, Attica may face water depletion by 2026–2027.”
In response, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has ordered a series of high-level meetings at the Maximos Mansion, signaling that water security is now a national resilience priority. The government is preparing a package of accelerated investments, regulatory reforms and technical interventions to prevent the capital from running dry.
The €2.5 Billion Master Plan
EYDAP’s 2025–2034 investment plan, worth €2.5 billion, is the backbone of Greece’s National Climate Adaptation Strategy. It focuses on four strategic pillars:
- Modernizing and expanding water supply and wastewater networks.
- Building new treatment and recycling facilities for sustainable water reuse.
- Deploying “smart” leak detection and consumption monitoring technologies.
- Protecting aquifers and reservoirs against overuse and contamination.
More than €1 billion of the program targets Eastern Attica, connecting 73,000 properties and serving over 410,000 residents. An additional €755 million will modernize Athens’ aging water network, while €695 million will be directed toward wastewater recycling and environmental upgrades.
Financing and Acceleration
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved €250 million in financing for EYDAP, part of a wider €514 million climate resilience package for Attica through 2030.
Investment absorption has quadrupled in recent years — from €15 million annually (2017–2020) to €60 million in 2024, with targets of €90 million in 2025 and €250 million annually by the end of the decade.
EYDAP is calling for regulatory flexibility and staffing reinforcements, arguing that bureaucratic delays could cost Athens precious time as water reserves continue to shrink.
Emergency Measures and Technical Interventions
In parallel, EYDAP has reactivated boreholes in Mavrosouvala and Viotikos Kifisos, while conducting feasibility studies for desalination plants along the Attica coastline.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy is also adjusting outflows from the Evinos River and reassessing reservoir management at Mornos — Athens’ main water source.
In a contingency scenario, the government is even considering transporting water by sea from western Greece until the Kremasta–Evinos interconnection project is completed.
Institutional and Policy Framework
EYDAP awaits the RAAEY’s (Water Regulatory Authority) decision on its new tariff policy, which will define the company’s allowed revenue and enable cost recovery under EU sustainable water directives.
The government is also exploring the merger of smaller municipal networks into a unified system, aimed at improving water management efficiency and cutting operational costs.
For Athens, the water challenge is no longer theoretical — it is a countdown. The EYDAP crisis plan, backed by European funds and government urgency, aims to transform Greece’s capital into a model of urban water resilience.
If the pace of action matches the scale of ambition, Attica might just avoid a dry future. If not, the taps could tell a different story by 2027.
Source: pagenews.gr