Tinos and Alonissos islands declare water emergency as drought pressures intensify
The government has placed the islands of Tinos and Alonissos under a state of emergency due to water shortages, as concerns over drought and rising summer demand grow across several parts of the country.
The emergency measures, which will remain in force for the next three months, were approved by Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou following consultations with the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water and the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy.
The decision allows local authorities to accelerate emergency actions aimed at securing water supplies during the peak tourist season, when consumption typically rises sharply.
Alonissos Mayor Panagiotis Anagnostou welcomed the move, saying it would help speed up procedures needed to address the island’s water shortage challenges at a critical time of the year.
The same ministerial decision also placed Tinos under emergency status due to drought conditions, while extending an existing water emergency declaration for the island of Meganisi, off the coast of Lefkada, for an additional three months.
Monemvasia appeals for water conservation
Meanwhile, local authorities in the municipality of Monemvasia in southern Greece have launched a public campaign urging residents to reduce water consumption and eliminate wasteful practices.
Mayor Iraklis Tricheilis stressed that water supplied through the municipal network is intended exclusively for drinking and household use.
He warned against using potable water for irrigating crops, olive groves, large gardens and trees, as well as for washing courtyards, sidewalks, vehicles or filling swimming pools without special authorization.
The municipality plans to deploy teams across villages to inform residents about the growing water scarcity problem and encourage more responsible consumption.
Tricheilis said the municipality already faces a significant water deficit and is forced each year to drill deeper wells and invest in new pipelines and storage facilities to meet demand across 38 communities and 57 settlements.
“Boreholes are reaching ever greater depths until eventually there will be no water left, or it will become brackish due to seawater intrusion,” he warned.
Corfu faces another water supply disruption
In Corfu, residents and businesses faced another lengthy interruption to water services on Wednesday as the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEYAK) carried out repairs to a major water pipeline.
The work involves the permanent restoration of damage to the main supply network feeding the Analipsi reservoirs from the springs of Chrysida.
According to the utility, water service is expected to remain suspended until at least midday, with the exact restoration time depending on the progress of repair work.
The latest outage comes only days after a major breakdown left large parts of Corfu town and surrounding areas without water for nearly two days, causing significant disruption for residents, businesses and visitors at the height of the tourism season.
Water security emerges as growing challenge
The developments highlight increasing concerns over water availability across Greece, where prolonged dry conditions, rising temperatures and growing tourism demand are placing additional pressure on water resources.
Authorities have repeatedly warned that efficient water management and conservation measures will be essential during the summer months, particularly in island regions and areas already facing drought conditions.
Source:ERTNews
