Greece Faces Severe Water Crisis, EU Launches Campaign

The Argolida region of southern Greece is grappling with a severe water crisis, exacerbated by aging infrastructure that loses over half the water pumped through it. Residents are cautioned against consuming contaminated water from backup sources, leading many, including local jeweller Lydia Sarakinioti, to rely on bottled water for daily needs. The European Union has initiated a campaign to tackle this climate change-driven issue, requiring member states to assess water leakage levels by next year. Greece's history of underinvestment, particularly following a crippling debt crisis from 2009 to 2018, has contributed to the problem, with losses from leaks and theft nearly double the EU average. Despite the government investing over 1.5 billion euros in water infrastructure since 2019, the pressing need for comprehensive reforms remains evident, particularly for agriculture in the region. Farmers are facing production losses due to both water scarcity and salinity issues affecting groundwater.