“Attica, even if the most extreme (realistic) scenarios arise, with the combination of immediate and medium-term projects, will face the problem of reducing rainfall, with the help – if necessary – and cheap energy, through renewable sources, which ensures the fast, green, energy transition that we are implementing”.

This is noted in a statement by, among others, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Thodoros Skylakakis, regarding the initiatives taken to deal with the water shortage and informs that already, the ministry is intensively dealing with the phenomenon and will have the results of the relevant studies by end of the year.

In a related announcement, it is emphasized that “the Ministry of Environment and Energy will continue to contribute to the implementation of alternative solutions for everyone’s unhindered access to water of excellent quality, with the lowest, possible, economic and environmental cost in mind.”

In detail, the ministry’s announcement states the following:

The consequences of the climate crisis are reflected, in a strong way, in the water cycle. As a result, in the last two years, the decrease in rain and snowfall has caused a decrease in the water reserves of the reservoirs that supply Attica.

The Evinos reservoir, together with Morno, Marathona and Ylikis are the four water reservoirs, which supply Attica with more than 400 million cubic meters of water per year.

The water supply system is designed so that the reserves of the reservoirs are not reduced.

But in the last two years, due to the drought, the reserves have decreased from 1,158,127 million cubic meters on 26/8/2022 to 703,339 million cubic meters on 26/08/2024, that is an average of about 225 million cubic meters the year.

Because of the aboveEYDAP, according to its planning, has already activated additional sources of water supplywith the reopening of 17 wells, mainly in the Mavrosouvala area and will also activate wells in the middle of the Boiotiko Kifisos river, while water is also now pumped from Ylikis, which until now was a reserve reservoir. These actions will contribute approximately 75 million cubic meters per year.

So if the drought of the past years continues, we will have a deficit of 150 million cubic meters per year and a reserve that can last about 4 years. For this reason, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, in close cooperation with EYDAP, has long drawn up and is implementing a road map and will choose the best solutions, which are realistic to implement, within the four-year period to ensure water reserves . These solutions include: the reduction of losses in the water supply networks, the partial diversion of water from rivers that end up in the Kremasta lake, the inclusion of new reservoirs, the use of recycled water for irrigation and industrial uses, as well as the enrichment of the underground aquifer with recycled water, optimal stormwater management and desalination, using green energy resources. Finally, if required by circumstances, at a later time, savings actions will be implemented.

EYDAP continues uninterruptedly to supply Attica with one of the highest quality waters in Europe, while implementing a 10-year investment program 2023-2032, amounting to 2.1 billion euros, to strengthen the resilience of water resources.

Addressing the water shortage and preventing its effects is one of the state’s priorities, and in full cooperation with all the country’s water supply companies, all necessary measures will be taken to address the phenomenon.

The participation of all is recommended, in the joint effort with a judicious use of the water reserves. The Ministry of Environment and Energy will continue to contribute to the implementation of alternative solutions for everyone’s unhindered access to water of excellent quality, with the lowest possible economic and environmental costs in mind.

“The key to the planning of the future water supply of Attica and the absolute assurance of the quality of drinking water, is the forecast for the rainfall in the coming years and decades. For this purpose, the ministry is already studying with new very high-precision climate models for the phenomenon and will have the results of the relevant studies by the end of the year,” said the Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, and added: “In based on these, the appropriate mix of medium-term projects will be designed which may include the utilization of existing water resources of Central Greece (Lake Kremasto), desalination and utilization for irrigation water and industrial water of rainwater and water derived from sewage treatment. In any case, even if the most extreme (realistic) scenarios arise, with the combination of immediate and medium-term projects, Attica will face the problem of reducing rainfall, with the help – if necessary – and cheap energy, through renewable sources, which ensures the fast, green, energy transition that we are implementing”.