Greece Faces Water Crisis: Lake Marathon Critically Low

Officials in Greece used Epiphany ceremonies on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to draw attention to the nation's growing water scarcity. Lake Marathon, a key reservoir supplying Athens, has seen its water levels drop significantly. Current reserves across the four main reservoirs are at about 390 million cubic meters, a stark decrease from over 1 billion cubic meters in 2022. This alarming situation led authorities to declare a water emergency in the capital last November.

George Stergiou, chairman of EYDAP, the greater Athens water utility, highlighted the recurring nature of the problem, noting that three consecutive years of declining reservoir levels have brought the issue to the forefront. He cautioned that increasingly frequent droughts are often succeeded by intense rainfall that fails to adequately replenish water supplies. In response, EYDAP has initiated a 2.5 billion euro investment plan spanning a decade.

This ambitious program aims to bolster water security by reducing losses and increasing supply. Key initiatives include replacing aging pipes, implementing smart meter technology, and expanding wastewater reuse. Stergiou emphasized the immediate goal of substituting non-potable water uses with recycled water. While reservoir manager Sofia Nalpantidou noted that Marathon's current level is partly managed for flood control, the overall trend underscores a critical environmental challenge facing Greece.