“We need to have mountain economy projects, that is, we need to stop the flow of water and the velocity of water in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas and then in the lowland areas we need to have such projects initiated so that they increase the sedimentation, because the big issue is the underground aquifers – from there we draw 80% of the water,” said Professor of Geology and Natural Disasters Ethymios Lekkas, speaking on ERT, amid the severe water scarcity observed in several Greek islands.

He explained, further:

“The issue of water scarcity is of course a dominant issue this year in many parts of our country, but as things stand and as we see the whole issue of the climate crisis unfolding, it will be a major issue in the years to come. If we have no rainfall or we have very heavy rainfall or heavy rainfall it is not positive. It is negative because water does not have time to penetrate the soil, so it does not feed the underground aquifers. Therefore, we need to have rainfall, prolonged but mild rainfall, so that water reserves are reinforced (…)

It is a question of how we can contain the intense flooding that comes from heavy rainfall.

There is a shortage of water, for example in Crete, where this year we have had almost zero rainfall, mainly in the eastern part of the island, with the result that the Aposelemi dam, for example, is currently in a marginal state. If it doesn’t rain this year, there will be no water next year, with huge implications for the tourism, social, economic and agricultural sectors.

So things are not looking optimistic at all. The emergency means that agencies, i.e. municipalities, regions and the central administration can go through such procedures and overcome the bureaucracy. That is, some actions that need to be done quickly without having the bureaucracy. That is precisely what an emergency means. It means emergency procedures, which in a normal period would take a lot of time to initiate and implement some actions, which are necessary (…).”

Desalination has a huge environmental impact

Referring to desalination, he underlined: “It is not only the existing reserves that the problem is not solved by desalination. Desalination has a huge environmental impact. It requires huge amounts of energy. What we should ultimately do is what we have the time to do and can do: Proper management of water resources.

I mean, the population is going up five and ten times in some islands right now. So there is no proper management there. First of all, the infrastructure, the networks. For example, we have huge water losses. Secondly, there is no campaign. We had to start water saving campaigns for each one of us.”

As Lekkas explained, how serious the issue is will be determined by the rainfall which will be present in the Mornos areas, mainly because that is the main water reservoir for Attica.

“It has reached about half of its capacity. We are optimistic that in the coming winter, the lost reserves will be replenished. Otherwise things will be very, very difficult.”