ATHENS – Greece’s long dry spell – broken somewhat by Aug. 30 rainfall – has become so severe in spots that calls are being made to limit usage – apart from swimming pools and luxury resorts and golf courses – but not on the island of Siphnos.

That hasn’t been decided yet, but the state-run China Global Television Network (CGTN) – said the island’s Mayor, Maria Nadali, said that, “so many pools are being built. We will discuss this matter at the next council meeting. For many years, the Municipality has not agreed on using water from the municipal network to fill pools. Therefore, it is clear that we consider this a problem, but not the only one.”

While pools are filled, farmers on the island are also trying to deal with shortages and some said there should be controls on people watering their gardens, which in Greek villages consumes most of the valuable supply.

In some parts of Greece, there are calls to allow only seawater to be used for pools.

George Narlis, who grows fruits and vegetables on his Narlis Farms, said everything has dried up but added that, “I have also told the mayor that pools are not an issue for me. A pool uses five to 10 tons of water once in the summer. Conversely, a garden needs 10 cubic meters a day every day; that’s a lot of water.”

He added: “There should be regulations on how much water we can use for gardens just like everything else. Why aren’t there any regulations? We need action now; otherwise, farms like mine will start to disappear.”

Heat waves, climate change and a lack of regulation have combined to create a serious water problem for Greece and it’s still largely being ignored, with more luxury resorts using supplies popping up like crocuses in the spring.

There’s similar trouble on other Cycladic islands too, despite some using desalination plants and even bringing in water from the mainland – with reservoirs depleted drastically and bringing more worry.

“The problem relates to inadequate maintenance and the lack of comprehensive organization at the island level. At the same time, we are facing a huge problem with the networks,” Scientific Associate at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Elisavet Felon told CGTN.

“In many cases, losses in the networks exceed 20 percent. The aging of the networks is what causes these problems, so we must immediately focus on it, particularly in the areas where we have fallen behind. We need to take action,” she said.

In 2023, Nadali noted the pitfalls of overdevelopment but said there’s a balance that can be achieved between allowing more building without destroying the character of the island and the reason that people come.

While pointing to a plethora of swimming pools, she also noted problems with underground cave-like structures, and buildings constructed from unfinished stone. “We welcome anyone wishing to build here. However, we seek a sense of moderation, a conscientious approach – we desire structures that harmonize with the natural landscape.”