Water scarcity on the Greek islands has ceased to be a seasonal concern and is evolving into a structural problem that threatens the sustainability of local communities and tourism development. Elissavet Feloni, Hydrologist, Dr. NTUA and Lecturer at the University of West Attica, states to Tornos News that “the water crisis on the Greek islands is now a daily challenge, not a future scenario”.
The summer of 2025 highlighted the acute pressure on island water systems. Thirty-nine municipalities, including Chios, Mytilene, Andros, Central Corfu and Sami, were declared in a state of emergency, as water demand far exceeded the water carrying capacity of the areas. Water supply interruptions occurred even outside the peak of summer, with typical examples being Vonitsa and settlements in the Cyclades, where tanks were exhausted within a few hours. In Santorini, in June, an episode of African dust caused a rapid increase in consumption and temporary depletion of reserves.
The weakness of the existing networks is a key core of the problem. Water losses are estimated at 25%–30%, while in some DEYA they even reach 50%. Ms. Feloni points out that “the efficiency of the networks remains a structural problem, where due to leaks in the outdated networks, losses exceed 25%.
At the same time, the Ministry of Environment and Energy has launched 150 water supply and sanitation projects on more than 40 islands, with a budget of 320 million euros, while over 100 targeted actions are being implemented to enhance water sufficiency on isolated islands, mainly through desalination plants.
Desalination acts as a temporary respite, without solving the root of the problem. Elissavet Feloni explains that “desalination offers short-term relief, but a sustainable approach requires holistic planning: rapid infrastructure upgrades to reduce losses, establishing a unified savings framework for large users in the tourism sector, and enhancing the use of alternative sources, such as recycled and rainwater.”
True resilience, she adds, can only be achieved through public-private sector cooperation and substantial strengthening of environmental awareness. “It would be useful to implement financial programs that would support small tourism businesses in adopting saving technologies. Changing behavior and raising awareness of all those involved are essential to ensuring the water sufficiency of our island area.”
This summer proved that water scarcity is not just an environmental challenge, but a matter of tourism sustainability and social balance. The need for an integrated water policy, which will integrate conservation, demand management and the participation of local communities, is more urgent than ever.
Elissavet Feloni concludes in Tornos News that “addressing water scarcity requires a prevention strategy and not just crisis management. Water is a matter of national security and collective responsibility.”
The protection of water resources, as experts note, concerns not only the survival of island communities, but also the very future of the Greek tourism model, which is based on the balance between development and natural limits.
