A growing water shortage has pushed 13 Greek islands in the Aegean Sea to declare a state of emergency as authorities struggle to secure sufficient supplies of drinking water during the peak summer season. The latest island to take the measure is Poros, highlighting the expanding scale of the crisis.
The Greek government has responded by accelerating funding for the construction of a new water supply network. Experts say the problem is driven not only by prolonged pressure on water resources but also by an outdated distribution system, where roughly 60% of water is lost before it reaches consumers.
The situation has been made even more difficult by soaring summer temperatures and a sharp rise in demand linked to tourism. On Mykonos, for example, water consumption during the tourist season is reported to be nine times higher than in the winter months, placing enormous strain on the island's already limited resources.
The opposition has accused the government of failing to develop a comprehensive long-term strategy to address the worsening water crisis, arguing that emergency measures alone will not solve the structural problems affecting the country's islands.
To conserve freshwater supplies, local authorities have introduced restrictions requiring swimming pools to be filled exclusively with seawater. Farmers have also been affected by limits on irrigation, while officials warn that dwindling water reserves are complicating efforts to combat wildfires.
