Page 200 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - SEPT 2025

Resources under pressure

minimise water losses. Tour- • Climate-smart agriculture Bibliographic references
ism operators can reduce and nature-based solutions. 1. European Environment Agency
demand by implementing With irrigation dominating (EEA), “Water scarcity
low-flow taps and toilets, Greek water use, modernis- conditions in Europe”
(indicator update, Jan 17,
utilising greywater reuse ing on-farm practices can be 2025). European Environment
for green space irrigation, very efficient in water saving. Agency
and conducting leak audits. Soil moisture sensors, drip 2. Intergovernmental Panel on
Households can also save a systems, nighttime irriga- Climate Change (IPCC), AR6,
significant amount of water tion, drought-tolerant crop Chapter 4 and Mediterranean
“Cross-Chapter Paper” (2021–
by using efficient taps and varieties, and shifting away 2022). IPCC+1
toilets, as well as implement- from the water-demanding 3. European Commission / Reuters,
ing behavioural changes that crops in the most stressed “Europe’s water resources
can be facilitated by public basins are some indicative under pressure, most surface
bodies polluted” (Feb 4, 2025).
awareness campaigns. None examples. Reuters
of this replaces infrastructure, Wetlands, floodplains, 4. EEA, “Water abstraction by
but it can be applied fast and and healthy soils act like source and economic sector in
contributes towards the target sponges, moderating both Europe” (indicator, Dec 5,
2024). European Environment
of lower water consumption. flood peaks and summer Agency
• Improve water infrastructure low flows. Across the EU, 5. EEA, “Europe’s State of Water
and repair the water supply the EEA stresses ecosystem 2024: the need for improved
networks. Water reuse infra- restoration as part of water water resilience” (Oct 14,
2024). European Environment
structure must be developed resilience. In Greece, such Agency
by establishing efficient approaches include recon- 6. European Commission, Water
treatment facilities and a necting rivers to floodplains Reuse Regulation (EU) 2020/741
greywater supply network where safe, re-wetting wet- (effective as of June 26,
2023), and implementation page.
that can be initially used for lands, and utilising small, EUR-LexEnvironment
the irrigation of green spaces distributed water storage 7. Council of the EU / EUR-Lex,
and specific crops. In coastal systems and managed aqui- Urban Wastewater Treatment
basins, pairing reuse with fer recharge, rather than Directive (recast) — Directive
(EU) 2024/3019 (adopted Nov
managed aquifer recharge a singular focus on large 2024). ConsiliumEUR-Lex
can stabilise groundwater dams. 8. European Drought Observatory
and push back saltwater (JRC / Copernicus): Current
intrusion. Desalination is The path forward: From ambition to Drought Situation in Europe
and Map Viewer. EU Science Hub
essential for some islands implementation drought.emergency.copernicus.eu
and drought-prone areas, Greece and the EU have the necessary 9. European Commission, Factsheet
which can be combined with instruments to move forward and mit- on Greece’s Rural Development
renewable power to reduce igate the impacts of drought. There Programme (Sep 2024) —
agriculture uses ~86% of
operation costs. Special care is a strong legal backbone (WFD), water. Agriculture and rural
should be taken to ensure upgraded wastewater rules, harmo- development
effective brine management nised reuse standards, real-time water 10. EYDAP, Sustainability Report
and limit relevant ecological and drought monitoring, and a newly 2023 — non-revenue water ~24%.
impacts. Repairing or replac- announced strategy that prioritises eydap.gr
ing old water supply net- water security for the next 30 years. 11. Reuters & Euronews: Greek
works is of paramount impor- It should be noted that water security Islands Water Emergencies
tance since water losses are isn’t just one project – it’s a portfolio and Restrictions (2024).
Reuterseuronews
unacceptably high in many of actions, and it touches every sector 12. Reuters, Expert plan for
agricultural and urban areas. of the economy and society. The chal- Thessaly post-Daniel: flood
Water providers should adopt lenge lies in efficiently executing the defence and crop shift (Mar 20,
2024). Reuters
targeted network pressure necessary steps to achieve consistent 13. Kathimerini / GTP, Greece’s
management, district meter- funding, clear governance, credible five-pillar, 30-year national
ing, acoustic leak detection, timetables, and transparent report- water strategy (July 2025);
GTP 103 island water projects
and continuous monitoring to ing, all of which build public trust. If (Aug 2025). eKathimeriniGTP
save a significant amount of we manage to accomplish most of the Headlines
water, often at a lower cost above efficiently, transparently, and 14. Ministry of Maritime Affairs
per cubic meter than building with community support, we may be & Insular Policy via
desalination plants or new able to keep the taps running even as media reports, new island
desalination licenses (2024).
reservoirs. the climate warms. Global Flow Control
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