Page 198 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - SEPT 2025
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Resources under pressure
Indicative drought map for the first Observatory, HIMIOFoTS
ten days of August 2025 by the European What tools exist at the European level Research Infrastructure,
Drought Observatory There are three main European poli- https://www.himiofots.gr/en)
Source: https://drought.emergency.
copernicus.eu/tumbo/edo/map/ cies that can assist in mitigating water are crucial for the efficient
scarcity: mitigation of water scarcity,
• Water Framework Directive enabling authorities to antic-
(2000/60/EC) – the back- ipate pressure and target
bone of the EU water policy, measures effectively.
including the “cost-recovery”
principle meant to reflect the What Greece is doing: From emergency
true cost of water services fixes to long-term strategy
and encourage efficiency, In 2025, the Greek government
which can enhance optimal announced a national, multi-year
water demand management plan to upgrade water infrastructure,
by using economic incen- expand desalination and storage – with
tives/tools to reduce over- targeted action for Attica and Crete,
consumption, which, how- and a pipeline of island projects (over
ever, is not fully implemented 100 small-scale schemes) to improve
in many European countries supply and water quality.
yet. On the ground, several new desalination
• Regulation 2020/741 (EU) units for Aegean islands and remote
on water reuse – since June municipalities have been licensed,
2023, the EU has imposed and the country’s Water Scarcity and
common minimum stand- Drought Management Plans are being
ards applicable to the use updated to incorporate lessons learned
of treated urban wastewa- from recent extreme climate events.
ter in agricultural irrigation, However, several additional steps are
supported by guidelines necessary to mitigate the impacts of
and risk management plans. future water scarcity effectively. Some
This regulation promotes the of them are:
reuse of treated water across • Water demand management.
borders and reduces barriers Water companies should
to investment. establish pricing that reflects
• Monitoring systems for scarcity without compromis-
assessing water availability ing basic water needs and
and droughts in real-time install smart metering and
(e.g., European Drought leakage detection systems to
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