On the issue of dealing with it water shortage referred to in his article in APE-MPE, o President of the Board of Directors of EYDAP Giorgos Stergiou.

Specifically, Mr. Stergiou states:

“Drinking water reserves for Attica in just 2 years have decreased significantly from 1100 million cubic meters in October 2022 to below 700 million cubic meters today.

In exactly the same period the demand for water and its corresponding consumption increases especially in the 1st half of 2024 at unusually high rates. Characteristically, in the month of June, the growth rate was double-digit (12%).

The main cause of the above is climate crisis leading to a drastic reduction in rainfall and snowfall as well as long periods of high temperatures and dust transport leading to a rise in demand and all this more often and more intensely.

The combination of reduced amounts of available water with high levels of consumption can, with similar climatic conditions, which is extremely likely to happen, but also consumption habits, exhaust water reserves even in less than 5 years.

The climate is certain that we cannot change it drastically and quickly. But we can use the limited time we have to prepare and adapt to the new data.

In this very context the EYDAP by monitoring the development from a series of indicators, he promptly implemented the plan he has drawn up to deal with such conditions. Already operating drilling in Black sack while it will also add reserves, recovering approximately 1/3 of the annual reduction in reserves (75 million cubic meters / year). It also implements a preventive pipeline replacement program in order to further limit the already low rate (by international standards) of water losses from leaks due to the age of the network.

At the same time, he highlighted a series of medium and long-term measures that, with the close cooperation and decisive contribution of the State in their design and construction, will ensure a perspective of many years in the smooth and uninterrupted supply of approximately 5 million citizens with high-quality drinking water.

The strengthening of the existing system has already been qualified as a priority project Evinos – Mornou from rivers that today only feed the Kremasta lake. For this purpose, the relevant study and tender process will soon be launched.

Desalination has also been chosen as a strategic reserve and/or as an immediate implementation measure, while gradually in the coming years the use of reclaimed water for irrigation and industries, as well as for the enrichment of the water table, will begin.

Domestic as well as international experience shows that adaptation projects will take time. Beyond the immediate actions that EYDAP has already taken, only moderate consumption by the citizens of the basin can increase the window of time we have to be fully prepared even if the most extreme climatic scenarios are confirmed. So in this effort each and every one of us can contribute substantially with small changes in his/her daily habits. The few liters of water we save individually lead to a profit for Attica of millions of cubic meters per year.

The climate challenge requires us to do things differently than in the past. From all of us. The company, the state, the citizens. It is our responsibility to succeed.”