In Argolida, southern Greece, water leaks from cracked irrigation canals feeding orange tree plains, while outdated underground pipes lose over half the water they transport, according to officials. During summer, when reservoirs run low, authorities in Nafplion advise residents to avoid drinking the brackish, contaminated backup water supplied to homes.
“You can smell the difference in the water, feel the dryness on your clothes,” shared Lydia Sarakinioti, a jeweler in Nafplion who relies on bottled water even for cooking.
This month, the EU launched an initiative to address a water crisis driven by climate change, which already affects 38% of its population. By next year, EU member states must assess leakage levels before legal limits are enforced. The initiative, estimated to cost hundreds of billions of euros, aims to improve water security as southern Europe faces increasingly erratic rainfall and record-high temperatures.
Greece, on Europe’s scorching southern edge, illustrates the challenge. The past summer and winter were its hottest ever, with many areas experiencing months of drought. A decade-long financial crisis has compounded the issue, resulting in years of underinvestment. Government data reveals Greece loses around 50% of its drinking water to leaky pipes and theft, nearly double the EU average of 23%. Much of the country’s underground pipeline maps remain undigitized or nonexistent.
Since 2019, Greece has invested over €1.5 billion in drinking water infrastructure. However, Argolida—a key agricultural hub producing about one-third of Greece’s oranges—shows the scale of challenges remaining.
“There are many problems, and we are trying to gradually tackle them all,” said Socrates Doris, head of Nafplion’s municipal water provider, who noted ongoing efforts to secure EU funding. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised improvements during a November visit, including irrigation network expansions and a desalination unit to address salinity. Yet officials stress fundamental repairs must come first.
“If an area’s network leaks everywhere, what’s the point of buying a new desalination unit or drilling a well?” said Petros Varelidis, secretary general for water resources at the environment ministry, noting leakages in some areas reach 80%.
In Argolida, water scarcity also impacts quality. Brackish water from the Anavalos submarine spring supplements shrinking lakes, but tests from 2022 to 2024 revealed elevated levels of chlorides and sodium, which pose risks for individuals with blood pressure or kidney issues.
In Ermioni, another coastal town, only 8% of 13,500 residents have regular access to safe drinking water, forcing many to depend on plastic bottled water, contributing to environmental challenges. Residents report damage to appliances due to water quality issues, while farmers, battling two years of drought, dig up to 300 meters for water, often finding it too salty due to seawater intrusion into aquifers.
“Every drop of water is indispensable… We pin our hopes on rainy winters,” said local farmer George Mavras.
Source: Swifteradio.com
