Thessaly water reserves reach critical levels due to depletion

Water reserves in Thessaly, Greece, have reached a critical point due to the exhaustion of surface and groundwater supplies. Maria Sakellariou-Makrantonaki, a professor at the University of Thessaly, warns that the current situation is far from reassuring.

According to her studies, a combination of climate conditions, geomorphology, and agricultural development has led to serious and potentially irreversible depletion of water resources. The region's intensive agricultural needs require vast quantities of water, leading to the uncontrolled overexploitation of groundwater.

This imbalance is causing a dramatic drop in aquifer levels and widespread pollution of groundwater. The professor emphasizes that water must not be consumed faster than its annual renewal rate within the hydrological cycle. Without immediate and strict management measures, the region faces ecological degradation with severe environmental, economic, and social consequences.