There is an acute freshwater shortage on seven Greek islands. The authorities have reacted.
July 21, 2026, 4:09 p.mJuly 21, 2026, 4:09 p.m
Dorothea Meadows / t-online
Sun, sea and beautiful beaches attract millions of holidaymakers to Greece every year. But on several popular islands, water becomes scarce during the peak travel season. Persistent drought, rising temperatures and high consumption during the holiday season are increasingly pushing water supplies to their limits. The Greek authorities have therefore declared a state of emergency on seven islands, as the Reuters news agency and other news portals report.
Astypalea: Fresh water is becoming scarce on the Aegean island. Everyone has to limit themselves.Image: www.imago-images.de
The Aegean islands of Tinos, Alonissos, Astypalea, Karpathos, Leros, Patmos and Symi are affected. The situation on Astypalea is particularly tense. According to Astypaleas Mayor Nikos Komineas, only around 2.5 centimeters of rain per square meter fell there in the past few months. For comparison: On Rhodes it was around 65 centimeters during the same period. The island’s most important water reservoir is now almost empty, and reserves have shrunk to around a sixth of their original level, it is said.
Drought and tourism as reasons
According to experts, the water shortage is the result of several factors. On the one hand, rainfall has been lower than usual for years, while at the same time heat waves and rising temperatures are causing higher evaporation. Added to this is tourism. During the summer months, water consumption by hotels, holiday accommodation, pools and restaurants multiplies on many islands.
For holidaymakers, this has so far primarily meant asking them to use water sparingly. Many hotels now ask their guests not to have towels changed daily or to forego daily room cleaning. Rainwater storage tanks are also being expanded in some cases and water consumption in hotel complexes is being reduced. For locals, however, the consequences are often much more serious. In some regions, irrigation of agricultural land is being restricted and farmers are already resorting to saline water.
The declared state of emergency initially applies for three months. It is intended to enable municipalities to react more quickly to the crisis and avoid lengthy approval procedures. Plans include, among other things, additional desalination plants, new wells as well as investments in water reservoirs and the modernization of supply networks. According to the government, around 15 million euros will flow into the infrastructure.
Experts assume that the situation could worsen further in the coming years. With climate change, longer dry periods in the Mediterranean are becoming more likely – from the authorities’ point of view, saving water is likely to become a permanent practice on many Greek islands.
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