During the winter and autumn months of this year, the amount of precipitation throughout Greece has decreased significantly.

Specifically, according to meteorologist Michalis SiutaGreece had dry winters and autumns, with reduce rainfall by 50% up to 75% compared to regular seasonal prices, based on the climate of our country. “This percentage reached 75% in the Cyclades and Crete.“, – says Mr. Siutas, referring to the “K”.

As he emphasizes, March and April rains cannot make up for the lack of in aquifers underground. According to the meteorologist, the causes of this phenomenon are the destruction of the natural environment and changing of the climatewhich represents “periods of stagnation” either in the form of prolonged drought or in the form of flood events.

“Storms with their high speed do not help, as the water does not have time to soak up and reach underground reservoirs,” he notes.

Although Mr. Sioutas describes that Greece is superior to other countries in terms of climate, this does not exclude that in the coming years we will have drought phenomena or even water shortage problems in the country, therefore, as he points out, measures must be taken immediately with building infrastructure such as reservoirs, as well as by rationalizing water consumption.

In the same climate Simos Malamis, Associate Professor, Metsovio Polytechnic Institutestates that it is possible that we may also see images of Italy or Spain in Greece facing drought problems, specifying however that we may see them in local level and for a certain period of time. “Don’t imagine a huge wave of water shortages across the country. If they occur, there will be local and seasonal problems in water management.”

Islands are vulnerable

Vulnerable to the problem of lack of rainfall are the islands, which receive a large number of tourists, resulting in a sharp increase in their need for drinking water and water for use, especially during the summer months, which are dry, as both scientists report. season.

“The level of groundwater has dropped significantly, and if earlier wells were pumped to a relatively shallow depth, now, in order to pump water, they have to “fall” hundreds of meters. But there is the problem of salt water, where over-pumping leads to an influx of seawater into areas close to the sea,” warns Mr. Ciutas.

“There is fear and anxiety for the future”

“We have not reached the point of water shortage even in the summer months. There are several desalination plants and the municipalities are constantly reinforcing them. We did not have to shut off the water supply or provide it on a rotational basis, but there is certainly fear and anxiety for the future, ”says Deputy Governor of the Cyclades Giorgos Leontaritis.

Mr. Malamis, in the context of his work with Hydrous Program which is looking for solutions to the problem of water scarcity, has been working and testing in the Cyclades the use of unconventional water flows, such as the disposal of treated wastewater and its recovery for agriculture, as well as the collection of rainwater.

He notes that there are technological solutions, but they need to be implemented, while adding that due to the age of the networks, there are large water losses. “Infrastructure needs to be improved,” he notes, adding that there should also be information on water conservation and good governance.

Targeting the environmentally conscious tourist

Regarding the impact of tourism, Mr. Malamis describes how, when talking to tourism professionals, they tell him that tourists will not prefer them unless they offer pools or hot tubs. The solution, he suggests, is to target tourism that cares about the environment and uses such criteria to select accommodation as well as to educate tourists.

“I will give you an example. We have created a pilot ecotourism block, in which the tourist has the opportunity to see the water cycle and energy saving in practice. So he has the opportunity to train on it.” Of course, admitting to himself that a Western tourist does not come to the Cyclades with this attitude, he suggests, among other things, that units that have pools or hot tubs should also use water saving methods.

Finally, he attaches great importance to the contribution of agriculture to the conservation of water resources in the country as a whole, emphasizing that this is the sector that absorbs most of the water and therefore one in which targeted and systematic interventions such as precision farming should be implemented. or reclamation of wastewater for use in irrigation.