Greece has announced a €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion) decade-long plan to confront an escalating drought crisis threatening Athens, Thessaloniki, and dozens of its islands — the country’s most serious water challenge in three decades.
“It may snow, it may rain… but hope is not a strategy,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared, emphasizing the need for proactive planning. “We must be prepared for the worst possible scenario.”
Officials warned Thursday that the southeastern Mediterranean is among the regions most exposed to climate change impacts, with Greece already witnessing a sharp decline in rainfall and water reserves.
A Decade-Long Blueprint for Water Security
Speaking at an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYDAP), CEO Harry Sachinis unveiled details of the “10-year, €2.5 billion plan.”
The strategy includes:
Diversion of two tributaries of the Achelous River in western Greece,
Extensive drilling and desalination projects,
Replacement of over 600 kilometers (370 miles) of aging water pipes within four years, and
The consolidation of over 700 local water utilities to reduce loss and improve irrigation management.
“Our goal is to ensure that the Athens metropolitan area will not face another water supply crisis for at least the next 30 years,” Mitsotakis affirmed.
EYDAP currently serves 4.4 million residents in greater Athens. The company reported a 6.2% rise in water consumption last year, driven by record-high temperatures.
A Crisis Decades in the Making
Greece’s last major drought emergency struck in the early 1990s, when Mitsotakis’ father served as prime minister. Today, the challenge is even greater.
Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou revealed stark figures:
A 25% drop in annual rainfall,
A 15% increase in evaporation, and
A decline of 250 million cubic meters in water reserves each year since 2022.
“After Cyprus, our country faces the highest water stress in southern Europe,” Papastavrou warned. “More than half of Greece’s population could be affected. The hydrological data show the shortage is intensifying — we cannot wait any longer.”
Greece now ranks 19th globally in terms of water scarcity risk, according to government data.
Investments Across the Country
A €500 million Achelous tributary project is slated for completion by 2029, while over 150 smaller projects, valued at €320 million, are underway across more than 40 islands.
With support from the European Union, the government aims to merge smaller utilities into the larger networks operated by EYDAP and EYATH (Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage Company) to reduce waste.
Currently, network losses reach up to 50% nationwide — a figure Papastavrou called “unacceptable.”
“In Singapore and Israel, every drop of water is reused two or three times,” he noted, urging Greece to follow their example.
Financial Picture
Despite its ambitious expansion plans, EYDAP reported a 28% decline in net profits in 2024, falling to €14.6 million, and a net loss of €5.6 million in the first half of 2025 — largely due to increased costs and infrastructure investments.
Still, officials insist the long-term plan is crucial to safeguarding the country’s water future amid worsening climate pressures.
“This is not just an infrastructure project,” Mitsotakis said. “It’s an investment in Greece’s survival.”
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