Scientists are concerned and draw attention as the nightmare of water scarcity is more intense than ever.
Water reserves in the Mornos Lake, which supplies Athens, are dangerously decreasing, to the extent that a submerged village is resurfacing. In fact, the level of Mornos has fallen so low, due to lack of rain, that the submerged village of Kallio has been revealed again.
Speaking to SKAI, emeritus professor of NTUA Kimon Chatzimpiris emphasized that “if the level drops too much, it will be impossible to pump water. This means that Athenians will have to relocate.”
The images taken on August 18 by mechanical engineer George Chalkos and presented by SKAI are disheartening. “It has dropped a lot. It has dropped before, but now it has dropped very much; the level is very low, and the height difference from the overflow is very large,” Mr. Chalkos noted.
Professor Kimon Chatzimpiris remarked that the Mornos Lake was constructed specifically to supply Athens. “At the beginning of the ’90s, we experienced significant water scarcity. Fortunately, the project of Evinos had already begun, the Evinos Lake which feeds Mornos Lake to subsequently deliver water to Athens, and we then believed that the water supply issue of Athens had been permanently resolved because the available water quantities were very large,” Mr. Chatzimpiris added.
“What needs to be done immediately is water conservation in the city and everywhere, so that the few reserves we have can last until this extraordinary phenomenon passes. I remember in the past, washing cars and cleaning verandas was prohibited, where water is not absolutely necessary, and we can abstain from it for a while to ensure we have enough to drink,” the professor emphasized.
Scientists are concerned and draw attention as the nightmare of water scarcity is more intense than ever. Over the last two years, the lack of rain has significantly reduced the water reserves in the reservoirs supplying Attica. EYDAP is already activating supplementary sources, as planned in their program.