Tackling Water Shortages in Greece

Greece is navigating a period of increasing water scarcity, shaped by shifting climate patterns, rising seasonal demand, and infrastructure that has not kept pace with the country’s evolving needs.

Water losses through aging distribution networks remain among the highest in Europe. Agriculture accounts for over 80% of freshwater withdrawals, and tourism amplifies pressure on island and coastal systems during the months when supply is most constrained.

The Greek government has placed water management firmly on the national agenda, with investments in infrastructure, including desalination and water mains. These are necessary and welcome interventions.

Deon Policy Institute’s research focuses on the complementary policy layer — the technology, regulatory, and awareness interventions that sit alongside large infrastructure and determine whether those investments deliver their full potential.

Deon’s Approach:

• Data and Information: Exploring the data infrastructure required for evidence-based water management. Our research examines the potential for a national water intelligence system — integrating satellite remote sensing, groundwater monitoring, and real-time hydrological data into a unified decision platform — drawing on international models such as Australia’s WIRADA.

• Water Supply: Assessing opportunities to expand available water sources beyond traditional extraction. Key areas of focus include treated wastewater reuse, greywater recycling — particularly in the hospitality sector — and stormwater harvesting infrastructure to capture rainfall currently lost to urban runoff.

• Water Demand: Examining consumption patterns primarily in agriculture, and evaluating demand-side management strategies like precision irrigation.

• Water Distribution: Assessing the state of water distribution infrastructure, identifying where losses are concentrated, and evaluating modernization strategies including AI-assisted leak detection, smart pressure management, digital monitoring systems.

• Policy, Regulation, and Governance Changes: Exploring reforms to strengthen coordination between national and local authorities, and create incentive to drive water-conservation behaviors .

• Increasing Awareness: Identifying strategies to promote water conservation, encourage behavioral change, and build support for the reforms and investments that long-term water security requires.

By placing the water management at the heart of its growth strategy, Greece can enhance its climate resilience, safeguard critical economic sectors such as agriculture and tourism, and ensure long-term water security for its population while enabling sustainable development.