Greece Declares Water Emergency as Nationwide Supply Measures Accelerate – The Media Line

Report on Greece’s Water Management Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Water Scarcity in Line with SDG 6

Greece is facing significant challenges to its water infrastructure, threatening the nation’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Declining water reserves and climate-induced erratic weather patterns have necessitated the declaration of a formal emergency status in several regions, including Attica, Leros, and Patmos, with Meganisi expected to follow. This situation underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management practices to ensure the availability of clean water for all.

Immediate Interventions for Water Security and Efficiency

In response to alerts from the national water utility (EYDAP) and the National Technical University of Athens, the government has activated an emergency framework. These short-term measures are directly aligned with achieving targets under SDG 6 and strengthening resilience as outlined in SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Augmenting Water Supply (Target 6.1): Authorities are preparing additional wells to contribute approximately 45 million cubic meters of groundwater to the national grid annually, directly addressing the goal of achieving universal and equitable access to safe drinking water.
• Improving Water-Use Efficiency (Target 6.4): Plans include critical improvements to the Thiva canal to reduce significant water volume losses, thereby increasing efficiency across the External Water Supply System.
• Promoting Sustainable Infrastructure (SDG 9): Technical reviews for desalination facilities are being expedited, particularly for island regions. This promotes innovative and resilient infrastructure to combat water scarcity.

Long-Term Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Development

A comprehensive national strategy is being developed to create resilient and sustainable water systems, reflecting a commitment to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The Eurytus Project: A Commitment to Resilient Infrastructure

The cornerstone of this long-term strategy is the Eurytus project, a €500 million investment package designed to reinforce the water supply for the greater Athens region. This initiative is a clear example of building quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure to support human well-being.

• Modernization and Expansion: The project includes the modernization of supply lines and the construction of two large transfer tunnels (14 km and 6 km) capable of handling 200 million cubic meters of water annually.
• Sustainable Water Sourcing: The plan involves redirecting parts of the Karpenisiotis and Krikeliotis rivers and adding desalination capacity, diversifying water sources to mitigate climate-related risks.

National Assessment and Policy Formation for Climate Adaptation

A country-level assessment of water reserves, commissioned by the national regulator, is underway. This study will provide the evidence base for new policy targets, ensuring that Greece’s water management strategy is adaptive and resilient to the impacts of climate change, directly supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) by integrating climate change measures into national policies and planning.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Achieving Goals Through Partnerships (SDG 17)

The response to the water crisis exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The successful implementation of both immediate and long-term strategies relies on the effective collaboration between various entities.

1. EYDAP (National Water Utility): Initiated the alert based on monitoring data.
2. National Technical University of Athens: Provided critical assessments of infrastructure capacity and is leading the national water reserve study.
3. Government Ministries: Authorized fast-track procedures and are overseeing technical reviews.
4. Legal Advisory Groups: Providing oversight for the national assessment project.

This coordinated effort among public, academic, and regulatory bodies is fundamental to developing a cohesive and effective national strategy for sustainable water management.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The entire article focuses on Greece’s water crisis, including water scarcity, declining reserves, and the strain on the national water network. It discusses measures to ensure a sustainable supply of freshwater, which is the core objective of SDG 6.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The article heavily emphasizes the need for infrastructure development and modernization to address the water shortage. It details the “Eurytus project,” a €500 million investment in reinforcing reservoirs, modernizing supply lines, and building large transfer tunnels. This directly relates to building resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The water crisis is presented as a direct threat to communities, with several regions, including the greater Athens area, Attica, Leros, and Patmos, being placed under a “formal emergency status.” The goal of the interventions is to make these communities more resilient to water-related disasters.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article explicitly links the water supply issues to “increasingly erratic weather patterns,” a direct consequence of climate change. The government’s actions, such as upgrading infrastructure and securing new water sources, are adaptive measures to strengthen resilience against climate-related hazards like drought and water scarcity.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 6:
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article discusses plans to improve canal efficiency to reduce water loss, add groundwater wells, and build desalination facilities to ensure a sustainable supply.
   • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels. The article mentions a “country-level assessment of water reserves” and collaboration between the national water utility (EYDAP), the National Technical University of Athens, and government ministries to set new policies, which exemplifies an integrated management approach.
2. Under SDG 9:
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being. The planned €500 million “Eurytus project,” which includes modernizing supply lines and constructing new transfer tunnels, is a direct effort to develop resilient water infrastructure.
3. Under SDG 11:
   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters. The declaration of a “formal emergency status” highlights that people are currently affected by a water-related disaster (scarcity). The government’s interventions are aimed at mitigating this impact and preventing future crises.
4. Under SDG 13:
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The article identifies “erratic weather patterns” as a cause of the water strain. The entire strategy of upgrading infrastructure and diversifying water sources is an act of building resilience and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Level of Water Stress (Indicator 6.4.2): This is implied by the article’s description of “declining reserves,” “growing strain on its water network,” and the need to declare a “formal emergency status” in multiple regions. A reduction in these conditions would indicate progress.
2. Change in Water-Use Efficiency: Progress towards Target 6.4 can be measured by tracking the reduction in water loss from infrastructure like the Thiva canal after improvements are made.
3. Additional Water Volume Supplied: The article provides specific quantitative indicators for increased water supply, including the addition of “forty-five million cubic meters of groundwater” annually from new wells and the capacity of new tunnels to handle “up to 200 million cubic meters of water a year.”
4. Investment in Infrastructure: The “€500 million investment package” for the Eurytus project is a clear financial indicator for measuring commitment and progress towards Target 9.1.
5. Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (Indicator 6.5.1): The commissioning and completion of the “country-level assessment of water reserves” and the subsequent setting of “new policy targets” serve as indicators of progress in implementing integrated management.
6. Number of People Affected by Water-Related Disasters (related to Indicator 11.5.1): The number of regions or people under a “formal emergency status” due to water scarcity is a direct indicator. Lifting these emergency declarations would signify progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: themedialine.org