Greece Faces Historic Crisis: Drought Forces Hotels to Fill Pools with Seawater to Save Resources

Written by Rafaela Fabris

Published on 15/01/2025 at 17:52

A água do mar está sendo considerada porque a seca na Grécia está deixando os recursos hídricos potáveis cada vez mais escassos. Usar água salgada nas piscinas ajuda a economizar água doce para usos mais importantes, como o abastecimento urbano.

5 people reacted to this.

With Rainfall 12% Below Average in Recent Decades and Regions Like Crete and the Aegean Islands in Water Collapse, Hotels in Greece May Adopt Sea Water in Pools to Face the Worst Drought in Recent Years.

Greece, known for its stunning islands and turquoise sea, is facing a new challenge that could change the tourist experience in the country. With a worsening water crisis, a bill suggests that hotels fill their pools with seawater. The measure, although controversial, reflects the seriousness of the situation.

But is this idea feasible? Or would it just be a stopgap solution that may bring even bigger problems?

Drought in Greece: A Growing Problem

Tourist islands, such as Mykonos and Santorini, face enormous demand for water during peak season. This solution seeks to alleviate pressure on reservoirs and ensure the functioning of tourism.

In the last two years, Greece has recorded critical levels of drought. Precipitation has been on a constant decline, with a 12% drop in annual averages between 1971 and 2020, according to the National Observatory of Athens. The most affected regions include the famous Aegean Islands and Crete, which have lost about 20% of their average precipitation.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Pools with Sea Water: Solution or Problem?

The new bill proposes to install pipelines to pump seawater into hotel pools, alleviating pressure on water resources. The idea is to redirect drinking water for other more essential urban uses.

However, not everyone is convinced. Critics point to the lack of clear standards for disposing of water treated with chemicals. The impact on the marine ecosystem and the aesthetics of the beaches are also raised concerns.

Environmental Impacts in Focus

Saltwater, when disinfected with chlorine, can become a risk to marine life. Fish and other organisms may be affected by the release of chlorine into the sea. Experts suggest that the project should include measures such as mandatory dechlorination before disposal.

Furthermore, there are concerns about the possibility of sewage being discharged along with pool water, which has occurred in previous cases. “It is necessary to balance the benefit for tourists with environmental protection,” comments Elias Nokas, director of Water Resources.

The Opinion of Experts and the Public

While the government defends the proposal as a way to preserve drinking water, critics argue that the impact of pools is overstated. In islands like Mykonos and Paros, pools consume only 6% of available water resources, according to studies.

Local residents and environmentalists are calling for more sustainable solutions, such as the use of desalination technology, which is already applied in some islands but still faces high costs and implementation challenges.

Challenges and the Future of Sustainability in Greece

Tourism is a double-edged sword for Greece. It is essential for the economy but also places enormous pressure on natural resources. It is time to rethink the tourism model and adopt more sustainable practices.

Measures such as raising awareness among tourists, increased investment in water infrastructure, and the use of renewable energies may be key to ensuring that Greece remains a sustainable paradise for both visitors and residents.

0 Comments

most recent

older Most voted

Greece Faces Historic Crisis: Drought Forces Hotels to Fill Pools with Seawater to Save Resources

With Rainfall 12% Below Average in Recent Decades and Regions Like Crete and the Aegean Islands in Water Collapse, Hotels in Greece May Adopt Sea Water in Pools to Face the Worst Drought in Recent Years.

Drought in Greece: A Growing Problem

Pools with Sea Water: Solution or Problem?

Environmental Impacts in Focus

The Opinion of Experts and the Public

Challenges and the Future of Sustainability in Greece

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

A giant brown band visible from space, approximately 8,850 kilometers long, connected Africa to America in the Atlantic Ocean, and satellites revealed that it is neither land nor pollution, but the largest accumulation of seaweed in the world, which broke records in 2025.

Workers were opening a modern road in Dover when they found, 6 meters below the asphalt, a 3,500-year-old boat made of stitched oak and plant fibers.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

In just one cast, fishermen are surprised to capture 14,096 mullets in Bombinhas and close a historic season with 58,000 fish; scene recorded in the Santa Catarina paradise marks the last day of the 2026 season.

Consumers eat six times more chicken than in the 1960s, global meat supply quadruples in 60 years, and FAO report reveals the invisible cost on the plate: livestock could drive 80% of the increase in agricultural emissions over the next decade.

Motorcyclist sees excavator arriving at the edge of a river in Bosnia, calls neighbors in minutes and turns a hydroelectric project into a resistance lasting more than 10 years with five expired concessions.

Spanish software engineer goes to work in the United States, reveals a salary of $14,144 in a single month and shows why young graduates are looking outside the country.

Number of icebergs from Greenland quadruples in 25 years, changes the North Atlantic seabed, and raises an alert for ships on new Arctic routes.

While France uses 4 purification barriers and 27 km of pipelines to transform treated sewage into reservoir reinforcement, Spain remains stalled by legal restrictions and distrust regarding human consumption.

Silvio Santos’ mansion inspired by a gas station is worth more than R$ 15 million, has 1,835 m² facing Enseada Beach, and was built for the Matarazzo family in the 1950s.

Government of RS invests over R$ 1 billion in projects in the Serra region, recovers more than 300 km on nine highways, executes over 120 containment measures, constructs a 155-meter bridge, and allocates 33% of Funrigs.

Greece Faces Historic Crisis: Drought Forces Hotels to Fill Pools with Seawater to Save Resources

With Rainfall 12% Below Average in Recent Decades and Regions Like Crete and the Aegean Islands in Water Collapse, Hotels in Greece May Adopt Sea Water in Pools to Face the Worst Drought in Recent Years.

Drought in Greece: A Growing Problem

Pools with Sea Water: Solution or Problem?

Environmental Impacts in Focus

The Opinion of Experts and the Public

Challenges and the Future of Sustainability in Greece

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

A giant brown band visible from space, approximately 8,850 kilometers long, connected Africa to America in the Atlantic Ocean, and satellites revealed that it is neither land nor pollution, but the largest accumulation of seaweed in the world, which broke records in 2025.

Workers were opening a modern road in Dover when they found, 6 meters below the asphalt, a 3,500-year-old boat made of stitched oak and plant fibers.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

In just one cast, fishermen are surprised to capture 14,096 mullets in Bombinhas and close a historic season with 58,000 fish; scene recorded in the Santa Catarina paradise marks the last day of the 2026 season.

Consumers eat six times more chicken than in the 1960s, global meat supply quadruples in 60 years, and FAO report reveals the invisible cost on the plate: livestock could drive 80% of the increase in agricultural emissions over the next decade.

Motorcyclist sees excavator arriving at the edge of a river in Bosnia, calls neighbors in minutes and turns a hydroelectric project into a resistance lasting more than 10 years with five expired concessions.

Government of RS invests over R$ 1 billion in projects in the Serra region, recovers more than 300 km on nine highways, executes over 120 containment measures, constructs a 155-meter bridge, and allocates 33% of Funrigs.

Free refrigerator: Enel wants to replace 27,000 appliances by 2027, accelerates program for 1,300 replacements per month, and sees delivery volume double in 2026; find out who can receive the benefit.

A project costing R$ 8.5 billion and spanning 502 km will connect Brazilian states with 108 km of duplications and a 30-year concession, while the Northeast gains economic strength and reduces its historical dependence on the Southeast.

Old chargers forgotten in the drawer may hide copper, reusable parts, and a simple chance to save before they become electronic waste.

The country’s primary deficits are expected to continue indefinitely, the same applies to the public debt, which will continue on an upward trajectory until it reaches the level of 90% of GDP (R$ 10.53 trillion) in the coming years.

Spanish software engineer goes to work in the United States, reveals a salary of $14,144 in a single month and shows why young graduates are looking outside the country.

Number of icebergs from Greenland quadruples in 25 years, changes the North Atlantic seabed, and raises an alert for ships on new Arctic routes.

While France uses 4 purification barriers and 27 km of pipelines to transform treated sewage into reservoir reinforcement, Spain remains stalled by legal restrictions and distrust regarding human consumption.

Silvio Santos’ mansion inspired by a gas station is worth more than R$ 15 million, has 1,835 m² facing Enseada Beach, and was built for the Matarazzo family in the 1950s.

Government of RS invests over R$ 1 billion in projects in the Serra region, recovers more than 300 km on nine highways, executes over 120 containment measures, constructs a 155-meter bridge, and allocates 33% of Funrigs.