Greece is entering a period of significant water crisis, with multiple regions now placed under formal emergency status.
Attica, Leros, and Patmos are already included, while Meganisi in Lefkada is expected to follow soon. These cases show that water scarcity is spreading across the country, driven by shrinking reserves and increasingly unstable climate patterns.
Scientific assessments prompt nationwide response
The national water supply company of Greece, EYDAP, submitted a request for emergency measures. The National Technical University of Athens supported it with a detailed study. Their findings highlight key issues in Greece’s water system with an urgent call for action.
The government can now move faster on the first phase of the Eurytus project. This plan aims to strengthen the Evinos and Mornos reservoirs, which supply most of the wider Athens metropolitan area.
Fast track measures as Greece responds to the water emergency
The declaration of emergency conditions allows the Greek authorities to move forward with a set of critical interventions, including:
- Expansion of groundwater resources: Newly activated wells are expected to contribute about forty five million cubic meters of water annually to national supply. This is equal to nearly twelve billion gallons of water each year.
- Development of desalination projects: Technical studies for new desalination facilities will be completed faster, which is especially important for island regions.
- Upgrades to the Thiva canal: Improvements to this part of the External Water Supply System are expected to save more than ten million cubic meters of water, roughly equivalent to over 2.6 billion gallons.
These actions are structured to maintain stability until larger infrastructure is completed.
Legal and technical work continues nationwide
The national regulator has commissioned a comprehensive review of Greece’s water reserves, carried out by the Water Resources Laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens and supported by a major Athens based legal team.
Although the final report has not yet been confirmed, it is expected to guide upcoming policy decisions with long term importance. In the meantime, the emergency framework gives Greece’s authorities the ability to activate simplified contracting procedures for urgent national priority projects. This reduces delays and speeds up the construction of essential infrastructure.
The Eurytus project: Greece’s strategic investment in water security and emergency response
The centerpiece of Greece’s long term approach is the Eurytus project, valued at €500 million ($578 million).
This major initiative includes:
- Partial redirection of the Karpenisiotis and Krikeliotis rivers toward the Evinos Reservoir network
- Upgrades to existing water distribution systems
- Construction of new desalination capacity
The project involves two major tunnels. The first is about 14 kilometers (about 8.7 miles) long. The second is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles).
Each tunnel will have a diameter of 4 meters (13 ft), and the system will be designed to transfer up to 200 million cubic meters (52 billion gallons) of water every year. Tendering for this project is expected in the summer of 2026.
