Swimming pools may be banned on Greek island hit by drought

Millions of tourists visit Greece to enjoy its ancient sites, pristine beaches, and swimming pools - a feature of countless hotels and holiday lets.

However, the country is experiencing frequent droughts, and questions are being raised about how water is being used. This summer, the island of Sifnos, debate is underway as to whether swimming pools should be banned.

Mayor of Sifnos, Maria Nadali told CGTN: "So many pools are being built. We will discuss this matter at the next council meeting. For many years, the Municipality has not agreed on using water from the municipal network to fill pools. Therefore, it is clear that we consider this a problem, but not the only one."

Water shortages and the lack of fresh water have also impacted many island farmers. Just a few hundred meters from the city hall lies Narlis Farms, run by George Narlis, a third-generation farmer.

His farm should be full of different kinds of melons, but instead, it looks like a cemetery for fruit and vegetables.

According to Narlis: "Pools are not an issue; I have also told the mayor that pools are not an issue for me. A pool uses five to 10 tons of water once in the summer. Conversely, a garden needs 10 cubic meters a day every day; that's a lot of water." 

He added: "There should be regulations on how much water we can use for gardens just like everything else. Why aren't there any regulations? We need action now; otherwise, farms like mine will start to disappear."

Like many Cyclades islands, Sifnos faces significant water shortages. Several factors contribute to this, including limited natural freshwater, seasonal fluctuations in demand caused by tourism and the impact of climate change.

The island traditionally relies on collecting rainwater, but there's been no rain for months. As a result, authorities have had to bring in water from outside. Scientists say the impact would have been less severe, if existing infrastructure was up to date.

"The problem relates to inadequate maintenance and the lack of comprehensive organization at the island level. At the same time, we are facing a huge problem with the networks," scientific associate at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dr. Elisavet Felon told CGTN. 

"In many cases, losses in the networks exceed 20 percent. The aging of the networks is what causes these problems, so we must immediately focus on it, particularly in the areas where we have fallen behind. We need to take action," she added.

‌A state of emergency has been declared on Sifnos, and action is underway. Desalination plants have been set up and campaigns are being launched to persuade people to use less water.

But climate experts warn that if radical policies are not taken at a central government level, scenes like this dried-up dam could become more of a reality.

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