The largest lake on the Greek island of Naxos has dried up, leaving only the turtles that swim in its murky depths as those who use it. The island’s highly coveted potato crop has been damaged as salt water has leaked into depleted irrigation wells downstream.
Authorities in northern Thasos are looking for a desalination plant to make sea water drinkable, while in the southern island of Karpathos restrictions on topping up swimming pools have been enforced.
For months, the majority of Greece has been parched. Water resources are under unprecedented stress as the nation’s islands get ready to welcome a historic influx of summer tourists, according to government officials, farmers, and scientists.
THIS YEAR HAD A SHORTAGE OF RAIN
“There has been an intense shortage of rainfall across the Mediterranean and, on Naxos particularly, our surface reservoirs are empty,” said the island’s mayor, Dimitris Lianos.
The historic ruins, beautiful beaches, and crystal clear waters of Greece attract millions of tourists each year.
However, the future of the nation’s primary economic engine is in jeopardy due to the effects of climate change, which include increased temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and wildfires.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS CREATING DIFFICULTIES
Matters have been particularly difficult this year. Fires started abnormally early after the hottest winter on record, even in regions that typically get snow. Michael Mosley, a famous British TV host, was one of at least six visitors killed last month by the country’s sweltering heat.
According to climate scientists, the worst is still to come. The coordinator of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service’s European and global drought observatory, Andrea Toreti, stated that it is too late to intervene once the consequences of the drought become apparent.
“We need to avoid thinking in an emergency mode, (instead) looking at prevention and preparedness,” Toreti said.
In the Aegean Sea, a popular but arid region, the mountainous island of Naxos is home to 20,000 inhabitants, and their water crisis is severe. During the summer, its beaches get tens of thousands of visitors daily.
NO WATER AVAILABLE FOR FARMERS
Just a few dozen Olympic swimming pools’ worth of water—220,000 cubic metres, or 7.7 million cubic feet—is stored in the island’s two reservoirs, which is one third of last year’s level.
The mayor of Lianos has stated that the three portable desalination machines that have been acquired should be sufficient to meet the needs of homes, hotels, and pools in terms of usable water.
But the purified water won’t reach the farmers; they’ll still have to use wells polluted by saltwater aquifers. According to the farmers, this pollution happens when the wells are dry enough to allow salt water to seep in.
The potatoes grown by Stelios Vathrakokoilis of Naxos are world-renowned for their buttery flavour and are protected from imitation by EU regulations. According to him, the saline irrigation water has cut his harvests in half this year.
“It’s a big disappointment because we humans didn’t succeed in anticipating that climate change would knock on our doors too,” he said as a handful of workers harvested potatoes nearby.
Desalination units were in shortage this summer because of growing demand, which has countries around the Mediterranean, including Italy and Spain, searching for methods to supplement their water supplies.
Officials expressed interest in purchasing a unit for future usage even on the somewhat greener Thasos, in contrast to the rocky Naxos.
According to Sychem CEO Alexandros Yfantis, the company was unable to fulfil client demand this summer due to a lack of essential components and lengthier production delays. Availability of new units is anticipated to follow in September.
“Since the problem is all around, any temporary equipment has been already leased,” Yfantis said.
(Source: AA)
