Karpathos was added Tuesday to the growing list of Aegean Sea islands declared in a state of emergency due to an acute shortage of drinking water, just ahead of an anticipated spike in consumption amid the summer tourist season.
The largely symbolic decision by the Environment and Energy Ministry will allow local authorities to fast-track better water management measures and will apply for the next three months, with an option of renewal.
Over the past year, Corfu and Meganissi in the Ionian Sea and Leros, Patmos, Astypalea and Symi in the Aegean – as well as the Greater Athens region – have been declared in a state of emergency for the same reason.
The ministry said Tuesday that Karpathos was added to the list due to a protracted drought which led to the drastic reduction of available water resources on the island, in combination with an anticipated rise in summer demand.
The designation is largely a bureaucratic ploy that allows local authorities to accelerate measures such as the leasing of desalination plants.
