ATHENS – Heat waves and droughts have left Greece so vulnerable to growing water shortages – especially on islands – that 18 more dams are being built and 14 are in the bidding process to ensure there’s enough supply.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras said there are more than 170 major dam projects operational to bring water for agriculture, energy generation and flood protection, but more demand created by record tourism.

Speaking at the 4th Conference on Dams and Reservoirs, organized by the Greek Committee of Large Dams (GCOLD) he said that projects are being accelerated to keep ahead of the drying up of the country and desertification worries in places.

The 18 under construction will cost 329 million euros ($363.34 million) and the 14 under study another 626 million ($691.16 million,) bringing the total to 955 million euros ($1.054 billion) for the works across the country.

“These projects will help meet the growing demand for water and at the same time serve as a driver of development by creating new jobs, boosting the country’s competitiveness and strengthening its resilience to climate change challenges,” he said, reported the state’s Athens-Macedonia News Agency (ANA.)

That comes after a massive storm in September 2023 brought the most rainfall in 32 years, but 2024 having so little that the Mornos Reservoir dropped so much that a village that had been submerged is being revealed.

The reservoir was created in 1949 by constructing a dam on the Moros River, the lake covering 15.5 square kilometers (6 square miles) which made it the ninth biggest artificial water body in the country and a major supply source.

The project meant that the village of Kallio had to be evacuated and moved to another location on the lake banks and when the water level drops parts of the old village can be seen, ruined walls prominent.