The island of Leros in Greece declared an emergency on Thursday due to a water shortage. The General Secretariat of Civil Protection has announced that the emergency measures will remain in place until July 25.
The official declaration, signed off by Vassilis Papageorgiou, the General Secretary of Civil Protection, reads:
“We decided to declare a State of Civil Protection Emergency of the Municipality of Leros of the Regional Unit of Kalymnos of the South Aegean Region, for the management of the consequences that may arise from the occurrence of water shortage phenomena in the area.”
Blame for the crisis has been laid at the feet of the previous municipal authority by the current Leros officials, who argue that the former failed to maintain the Desalination Units intended to address the island’s ongoing water supply challenges.
Amidst a punishing heatwave gripping Greece, six tourists, including hikers and the British TV presenter Michael Mosley, have tragically lost their lives.
Located between Patmos and Kalymnos, Leros is a stunning island in the Dodecanese. Unspoiled and relaxing, the island has plenty of bays and coves for those seeking complete isolation and tranquility. Lush green valleys combine with a dry hilly landscape, and breathtaking cliffs hang over the sea.
Will Greece face water shortages in the summer?
Greece is facing the possibility of water shortages due to extremely high temperatures and tourist overflow in this hottest of summers. The highest temperatures ever have been recorded this June.
As visitor flows seem to be approaching record-breaking levels, the prospect of water shortages seems like an alarming possibility compounded by the issue of summer wildfires in Greece. It is a combination of factors that has Greek authorities in a state of alarm.
Greece’s climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Over the past few decades, there has been a noticeable trend of rising temperatures, with heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense.
According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), Greece has experienced an increase in average temperatures, with recent summers breaking historical records.
The problem of water shortage could be more serious on Greek islands during the busy summer months, especially at the most popular tourist destinations such as Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, and Corfu among others.
Theoretically, the country should have ample water for its population and traditional water uses but the water supply is not evenly distributed in space and time.
The maximum precipitation is recorded in the western parts of the nation, where the available water resources are consequently plentiful, while in other regions of the country precipitation is much lower and available water resources are insufficient to meet the demand.
Due to this inequality in water distribution, some Aegean islands will face chronic water shortage problems.