MARATHON, Greece — A traditional Orthodox Christian Epiphany ceremony at Lake Marathon served as a stark backdrop for addressing Greece’s escalating water crisis on Tuesday. While faithful gathered to commemorate the baptism of Christ, government officials sounded the alarm over severe water scarcity, using the visibly depleted reservoir to underscore the urgency.
The ceremonial casting of a wooden cross into the diminished waters highlighted a critical situation: water reserves across the four reservoirs supplying Athens have experienced a catastrophic decline, dropping from over 1 billion cubic meters in 2022 to approximately 390 million cubic meters today. This dramatic reduction prompted the declaration of a water emergency in the capital last November.
George Stergiou, chairman of the Athens water utility EYDAP, emphasized the severity during post-ceremony remarks: “We are facing our third consecutive year of significantly declining reservoir levels. The problem is no longer distant—it is directly before us.”
Stergiou identified climate change as a primary driver, noting the increasing frequency of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfall that fails to adequately replenish water systems due to runoff and evaporation.
In response, EYDAP has launched an ambitious 2.5 billion euro ($2.9 billion) investment program spanning the next decade. The comprehensive strategy focuses on reducing water losses through infrastructure modernization, including pipe replacement, installation of smart meter systems, and significantly expanding wastewater recycling capabilities.
“Our primary objective is to substitute non-essential potable water uses with recycled water wherever possible,” Stergiou explained, outlining the utility’s conservation approach.
Sofia Nalpantidou, reservoir manager at Marathon, provided context for the low water levels, explaining that winter management includes maintaining buffer capacity for flood control within the interconnected reservoir system.
Local residents observe the environmental changes firsthand. Antonis Stamou, a 78-year-old retiree attending the Epiphany service, noted the climatic shift: “We experienced considerably more rainfall in the past, sometimes on a daily basis. These patterns have undeniably changed.”