Greece's Water Pollution: Strategies For A Cleaner Future

Greece is facing a water crisis, with demand outstripping supply and climate change exacerbating the problem. The country is under pressure from the European Commission to address nitrate pollution in its waters, with the EU Court of Justice ruling in 2015 that Greece had violated EU law. Since then, Greece has designated new Nitrate Vulnerable Zones but has yet to establish action programs. Greece's water issues are not limited to pollution; the country is also struggling with water scarcity and inefficient infrastructure. Southern Greece, in particular, is facing significant challenges, with underground pipes losing more than half of the water pumped through them. The government has promised to make fixes to the water problems, and Greece has spent over 1.5 billion euros on drinking water infrastructure since 2019. However, the country's economic crisis has made it difficult to enforce environmental laws and invest in the necessary improvements.

Improving wastewater treatment

Upgrade Wastewater Treatment Systems:

Upgrading to enhanced treatment systems can help reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads in wastewater treatment. While this may be expensive for municipalities, it can lead to long-term cost savings and help achieve nutrient reduction goals.

Optimization of Existing Equipment:

Instead of costly upgrades, some treatment plants can adjust their operations and optimize existing equipment to remove additional nutrients. This approach can result in cost savings by reducing energy demand and treatment chemicals.

Water Reuse and Recycling:

Treating wastewater to be reused in the same location is crucial, especially in areas of water scarcity. This reduces dependence on freshwater sources and helps conserve water resources.

Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Solutions:

Implementing decentralized treatment solutions can efficiently manage wastewater from various industrial sources. This includes advancements in data analytics and monitoring to ensure proper treatment and track the health of watersheds.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation:

Improving the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants helps conserve water and reduce energy consumption. Efficient plants can handle spikes in influent and prevent untreated water from entering natural water sources.

Addressing Leakage and Infrastructure:

Greece has been working to address its aging water infrastructure, with significant spending on drinking water infrastructure since 2019. Reducing water loss through leaky pipes is crucial to improving water security and reducing the strain on treatment plants.

Public Awareness and Water-Saving Techniques:

Educating the public about water-saving techniques can significantly reduce water consumption. This includes simple actions such as taking shorter showers, turning off faucets, and adopting water-efficient appliances and fixtures.

By implementing these strategies, Greece can improve its wastewater treatment capabilities, conserve water resources, and ensure access to clean drinking water for its population.

Reducing nitrate pollution

Greece is facing a water crisis, with demand for water outstripping supply. The situation is particularly dire in southern Greece, where erratic rainfall and hotter temperatures linked to climate change are exacerbating the problem. The country's economic woes have also contributed to the issue, with years of underinvestment in water infrastructure.

One of the main issues affecting Greece's water supply is nitrate pollution. Nitrogen is an important element for various biological processes, but it can also be a contaminant. Nitrate is one of the most problematic forms of nitrogen in surface water, as it causes phytoplankton and macrophyte growth, leading to water eutrophication.

• Reduce nitrogen fertilizer application: One of the most effective ways to minimize nitrate pollution in agricultural areas is to reduce the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers. This has been proven to reduce nitrate load in water bodies significantly.
• Increase conservation areas: Establishing more conservation areas, such as field filter strips, can help minimize nitrate pollution. These areas act as buffers between agricultural activities and water bodies, reducing the amount of nitrogen that reaches the water.
• Improve wastewater treatment: Treating wastewater before releasing it into the environment can remove nitrates and other pollutants. This can be done through the use of natural processes, such as using bacteria and other microorganisms to convert nitrates into less harmful forms, or through chemical processes, such as the use of catalysts to transform nitrates into nitrites.
• Promote water-saving techniques: Educating the public about water-saving techniques can reduce water stress and indirectly minimize nitrate pollution. This includes taking shorter showers, turning off faucets when not in use, and using water-efficient appliances.
• Repair and upgrade infrastructure: Greece loses a significant amount of its drinking water due to leaky pipes. Upgrading and maintaining water infrastructure can reduce water loss and improve water quality.

Investing in water infrastructure

Greece is facing a water crisis, with demand for water outstripping supply. Climate change is a key factor, with erratic rainfall and hotter temperatures impacting water availability. Southern Greece, in particular, is facing significant challenges, with many areas experiencing no rainfall for months. The situation is further exacerbated by leaky pipes and theft, resulting in a loss of nearly half of Greece's drinking water.

To address these issues, the Greek government is investing in water infrastructure upgrades and improvements. This includes the construction of water supply infrastructure and desalination units to increase water availability and reduce the risk of water pollution. Desalination units are particularly important for islands like Crete, where groundwater is being extracted faster than it can be naturally recharged, leading to saltwater contamination.

The government is also implementing telemetry-remote control systems to detect leaks in the water supply networks. This is crucial, as Greece loses around half of its drinking water due to leaky pipes, which is nearly twice the EU average. By reducing water loss through leaks, Greece can improve water security and ensure a more sustainable water supply.

In addition to government efforts, there is a focus on water-saving techniques and technologies at the household level. Some Greek homes have already adopted high-efficiency showerheads, and there is a push for simple behavioural changes, such as taking shorter showers and turning off faucets when not in use. These small changes can have a significant impact on reducing water consumption and preserving precious water resources.

The European Council has also committed to strengthening water resilience across the EU and investing in cross-border infrastructure for water. This includes support for renewable desalination projects, which can help address water scarcity in Greece and other affected regions.

Overall, Greece's investments in water infrastructure are vital to mitigate the impacts of climate change, improve water security, and ensure access to clean drinking water for its population. By combining large-scale infrastructure projects with individual water-saving practices, Greece is taking a comprehensive approach to tackling its water pollution and scarcity challenges.

Reducing water consumption

Greece is facing a water crisis, with demand for water outstripping supply. Climate change is making the situation worse, with hotter temperatures and erratic rainfall. Southern Europe, where Greece is located, is facing a challenge in conserving water.

Greece has one of the best per capita water supplies in the Mediterranean, but its precipitation varies across the country. While some regions receive ample rainfall, others face water scarcity. The metropolitan areas of Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patra, which account for most of the population and economic activities, are geographically distant from significant water resources.

To reduce water consumption and increase water efficiency, Greece can implement the following measures:

• Promote water-saving techniques in homes, such as taking shorter showers, turning off faucets when not in use, and using high-efficiency showerheads and aerators.
• Encourage the use of water-efficient appliances, such as dishwashers that use less water than handwashing dishes.
• Educate the public about responsible toilet flushing, as dual-flush toilets are becoming more common but still account for a significant amount of water usage.
• Address over-exploitation of groundwater by agricultural activities, as this is a significant contributor to water stress in Greece.
• Encourage water-efficient irrigation practices and technologies, such as drip irrigation or precision irrigation, to reduce water usage in agriculture.
• Implement policies and regulations to reduce the use of pesticides, nitrates, and other chemicals in agriculture that contribute to water pollution and reduce water quality.

Reducing water losses:

• Repair and upgrade old and leaky pipes, especially in underground pipeline networks, to prevent water losses during distribution.
• Digitize and maintain maps of the underground pipeline network to identify and fix leaks promptly.
• Improve water infrastructure and invest in water security programs to reduce water losses and ensure a reliable supply of clean water to the population.

Monitoring water quality

Greece has been facing a water crisis, with demand outstripping supply, and climate change making the situation worse. The country is struggling to provide an abundance of clean water, and this has led to health issues.

The Water Section (WS) within the Environmental Planning Section of the Ministry of the Environment is the general coordinator of all monitoring activities on surface water quality. The WS has been monitoring physico-chemical and microbiological variables in surface and coastal waters within the framework of national monitoring networks and in accordance with EU directives.

There are two national monitoring programmes that focus on inland surface waters: the first, in operation since the early 1980s, is performed by the Laboratory of Soil-hydrology and Geology (L.S.G.) of the Ministry of Agriculture. The second programme is currently being established with the six General Chemical State Laboratories (G.C.S.L.). The objectives of the first programme are to determine the level of pollution and the chemical composition of surface water used in agriculture.

The National Monitoring Programme for Surface Waters (R2) includes monitoring of coastal waters and has been in operation since 1985, with approximately four samples taken per year. The National Centre for Marine Research (N.C.M.R.) has participated in the Mediterranean Pollution Monitoring and Research Programme (MED POL/UNEP) since 1976, carrying out an extensive programme of monitoring pollution variables in the Aegean and the Ionian Sea and the Saronic Gulf.

Analysis of general chemical and physical variables and heavy metals is performed on monthly water samples taken in rivers and lakes all over Greece (approximately 250 sampling sites, primarily in the six largest river systems). The data collected by L.S.G. are reported to the Water Section. The six laboratories in charge of the R2 programme take the samples, carry out the analyses and report the information to the Ministry of the Environment.

Greece has designated 89 sensitive areas that must comply with Article 5 of the Directive, which requires more stringent treatment than secondary, i.e. nitrogen and/or phosphorus removal. A high percentage of wastewater load is addressed by means of individual or other appropriate systems (IAS) i.e. non-centralised sanitation systems (9.2% approximately 1,092,600 p.e.).

Greece has spent more than 1.5 billion euros on drinking water infrastructure since 2019, and its expected annual investment costs per capita for installing and renewing wastewater collecting systems and treatment plants is 16 EUR/inhabitant/year.

Frequently asked questions