Seven Greek islands in the Aegean Sea have declared drought emergencies, grappling with severe water shortages as they prepare for a summer surge in tourism. Astypalaia, Tinos, Alonissos, Leros, Patmos, Symi, and Karpathos are among those implementing urgent measures to preserve dwindling supplies, a situation exacerbated by hotter summers and increasingly erratic rainfall patterns attributed to climate change.
Astypalaia, located east of the mainland, is particularly affected. Despite some parts of Greece experiencing a wet winter, Astypalaia endured its second-driest season since 2020. The island's sole reservoir, built in the mid-1990s, currently holds only a sixth of its capacity, equating to approximately 150,000 cubic metres. With daily consumption around 900 cubic metres during peak summer, this supply is projected to last just over five months. The island's mayor, Nikos Komineas, highlighted the stark reality, stating that annual rainfall on Astypalaia would barely fill a container to 2.5 centimetres.
In response to the crisis, Astypalaia declared a water emergency in May. This has led to the fast-tracking of a temporary desalination plant for the main tourist town of Chora, capable of producing 600 cubic metres of water daily. Additionally, irrigation for farmers in the fertile Livadi region has been halted to safeguard the lake's reserves until autumn. Farmers like Evdokia Palatianou, 71, have seen their crops wither, forced to rely on brackish well water. Hoteliers on the island are also taking action; Maria Alkalai, who runs a hotel in Chora, offers guests a €5 voucher if they forgo daily cleaning services, a measure she says clients have embraced.
The strain on water resources is intensified by a noticeable rise in tourist numbers, with islands expecting a further boost this year. The local population of Analipsi, for instance, swells from 1,400 to 7,000 in midsummer, overwhelming existing infrastructure. While desalination plants offer a solution, they are energy-intensive and costly. The Greek Environment Minister, Stavros Papastavrou, has approved €15 million in funding for desalination projects, grid upgrades, and water tanks across nine of Greece's more than 200 inhabited islands, underscoring the government's recognition of the urgent need for long-term solutions.
The situation in the Aegean Islands serves as a stark reminder of the global challenges posed by climate change, particularly in popular tourist destinations. As temperatures rise and rainfall becomes less predictable, sustainable water management strategies become critical for both local communities and the tourism industry.