Greece is resorting to innovative measures to keep hotel pools filled as the country grapples with ongoing droughts. New legislation being debated in the nation’s parliament could see swimming pools at coastal hotels filled with seawater this summer, in a bid to combat the two-year drought.
The proposed laws could lead to the installation of pipes connecting the pools with the sea, aiming to conserve dwindling water reserves on many Greek islands and redirect the water to other areas facing shortages. Elena Rapti, Deputy Minister of Tourism, informed a parliamentary committee that the legislation: “regulates the framework for carrying out seawater extraction and pumping it for swimming pools. She said: ” She emphasised: “The focus, of course, is to conserve water resources.”
A recent study from the National Observatory of Athens revealed that Greece has experienced a decrease in annual rainfall by approximately 12 per cent between 1971 and 2020 compared to 1901 to 1970. The Aegean Islands and Crete are among the most severely impacted, with a fifth of their rainfall having disappeared. In 2021, Greece welcomed nearly 33 million visitors, generating €28.5 billion in revenue.
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Under the proposed legislation, pipelines would be installed to pump seawater in and out of pools at coastal resorts, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Elena, reports Birmingham Live. Greece is facing a 12% drop in annual rainfall from 1971 to 2020 compared to previous decades, heightening the urgency to tackle water scarcity. The country has experienced severe droughts over the past two years, amplifying the need for sustainable solutions, especially as tourism continues to be a crucial economic driver.
However, critics of the proposed new laws and regulations have voiced concerns about potential environmental damage, particularly from chemically-treated seawater, like chlorine, being released back into the sea.
