The discussion on the sustainability of Greek tourism is becoming urgent, as island destinations in the Aegean and Ionian Seas are once again entering a state of emergency due to water shortages. Data show that water infrastructure was designed for populations of only a few thousand residents and now faces hundreds of thousands of visitors during peak months. The result is a development model that strains water resources from July to September.
Professor Andreas Kallioras of NTUA told Tornos News that the issue of water scarcity on the islands cannot be fully addressed in most cases if we continue managing water resources using the same practices. He also emphasized that the state must mitigate the problem, especially as it signals that tourism is our major industry.
According to data examined by the competent authorities, the most problematic areas are in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. In the Aegean, pressure arises from tourism overpopulation, which exponentially increases water demand, combined with dry summer conditions and minimal rainfall in winter. In the Ionian, the situation is exacerbated by the same factor of high consumption, along with limited water infrastructure.
The Ministry of Environment has acted institutionally, requesting that the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy, and Water provide an opinion on declaring certain areas in a state of emergency. This administrative measure allows public funding for water supply projects and accelerates licensing and project maturity processes. While these are quick solutions, experts note that they do not address the strategic deficit.
Infrastructure designed for a few thousand residents is forced to serve massive waves of visitors. On islands like Mykonos and Santorini, water supply systems were planned for 11,000 and 15,000 residents, respectively, but during summer months, they serve populations exceeding two hundred thousand. Visitors consume at least twice as much water as permanent residents, while water-intensive facilities like swimming pools further exacerbate the problem.
Desalination emerges as a key tool. Currently, units operate on Leros, Nisyros, Thira, Ios, Milos, Sifnos, Paros, Syros, Mykonos, Tinos, Kimolos, Oinousses, and Chios, but the produced quantity remains limited. In the Dodecanese, for example, 9,588 cubic meters of water are produced daily, corresponding to just ten percent of the total capacity of municipal units.
Professor Kallioras noted to Tornos News that the main axes the state should focus on are improving distribution network infrastructure, potable water and wastewater treatment units, reuse where feasible, underground storage in aquifers, and desalination. This is a strategy that requires investment and a shift in the tourism model mindset.
What the islands need is a stable management framework, not temporary interventions. The balance between tourism and water resources will determine the sustainability of these destinations in the coming years. The discussion has now moved from the need for immediate solutions to the need for planning, with priority given to infrastructure that can withstand time and the increased demands of summer.
