More than 700 Municipal Water and Sewerage Utilities (MWSUs) will be merged into three single entities, according to Bloomberg, as part of the government’s measures to combat water scarcity: the existing entities, EYDAP and EYATH, expanding their territory, and one more to be created for the rest of the country.
The entities will remain under state control, but the operational framework of EYDAP and EYATH is under consideration to be changed in order to “enhance efficiency” by simplifying the recruitment process and attracting staff from the private sector.
Currently, as News247 reports, 1,327 water management projects are “running” in the country, requiring investments of more than €5 billion. Since 2019, 278 projects have been completed to date, with a total budget of €356.4 million.
Water reserves at hydroelectric power plants are at their lowest level in the last 20 years, participating in solar systems by only 4.39%.
The government also plans to create a new fund to finance critical projects such as dams and desalination plants.
Pressure on Attica’s water system, which serves more than 4.4 million people, has been increasing steadily over the past three years due to very high temperatures and reduced rainfall.
For this reason, Attica and Crete are expected to be officially designated as areas with a water scarcity status, which will allow for an acceleration of the water scarcity measures.
According to available data, Greece is ranked 19th in the world in terms of water scarcity risk.
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