Athens has just one year of water left if winter brings no rain

In 2019, reserves could cover four consecutive years, reaching nearly 1.2 billion cubic meters.

This is not a distant scenario but a direct result of climate change, prolonged drought, and rising consumption – which has climbed steadily by 6% since 2023 as households have relaxed their conservation habits and waste water more freely.

The looming water crisis risks exploding just as Greece heads into its next election cycle, adding political pressure to an already technical and environmental challenge.

Meanwhile, the “water business” is attracting strong interest from major domestic energy and construction groups, as well as European multinationals eyeing billion-euro opportunities in water infrastructure. Behind the scenes, however, battles are raging over who will ultimately control Greece’s water resources.

Emptying Reservoirs

On September 26, 2025, EYDAP (Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company) reported reserves of just 408.4 million cubic meters across its three reservoirs – down from 644.7 million a year earlier, a shortfall of 236 million cubic meters.

“We haven’t reached the point where taps are running dry,” said EYDAP’s General Water Director Giorgos Karagiannis. “But if reserves keep falling, shortages are inevitable. Every year, Athens needs 450–500 million cubic meters just to get by.”

To compensate, EYDAP has had to bring back backup sources like Lake Yliki and the Mavrosouvala wells, which now supply about 40% of the city’s water.

Emergency Measures and Long-Term Projects

EYDAP is reviving long-abandoned infrastructure while pushing forward the only permanent solution: transferring water from Lake Kremasta into the Evinos reservoir via two major tunnels. The first phase alone is estimated to cost €450 million and take 3–4 years, though experts warn even that timeline may be overly optimistic.

Until then, Athens must rely on temporary measures: pumping from Boeotia’s Kifisos River basin, reactivating old pumping stations, and launching new boreholes. Farmers, however, are already protesting over the diversion of local water resources.

Another option on the table is desalination. A study is exploring sites for a plant capable of producing 150,000–200,000 cubic meters daily, with Thisvi in Boeotia emerging as the most likely location due to its proximity to the Mornos aqueduct.

But desalination has high financial and environmental costs. Producing water this way could nearly double consumer prices from €0.60 to over €1.10 per cubic meter.

A Race Against Time

Ultimately, the greatest challenge is time. Experts agree no large-scale project can be completed in under 2.5–3 years. That means Athens could face a critical shortfall before any new infrastructure comes online.

For many in the technical community, diverting water from Lake Kremasta is the only option that can deliver meaningful results within the crisis timeframe.

The message is clear: Athens is not yet thirsty, but without decisive action, it soon will be. EYDAP is scrambling on multiple fronts – from boreholes to desalination – to ensure the capital’s glass remains full.

Water is not infinite. It demands infrastructure, planning, public awareness – and, most of all, time. And time, as the data show, is running out.