Hotels on Greek islands could soon fill swimming pools with seawater in drought fight
Ahead of the tourist season and the added pressure it puts on water resources, Greece is looking at other ways to keep hotel pools filled, but critics are worried about the impact on the environment.
Wednesday 29 January 2025 14:42, UK
Hotel pools on Greek islands could be filled with seawater this summer as politicians try to combat the country's two-year drought.
Proposed new laws debated in the Greek parliament this week could pave the way for pipes to be installed connecting swimming pools at coastal hotels with the sea.
The aim is to save shrinking water reserves on many Greek islands and use the water in other areas facing shortages.
Elena Rapti, a deputy minister of tourism, told a parliamentary committee on Monday the legislation "regulates the framework for carrying out seawater extraction and pumping it for swimming pools.
"The focus, of course, is to conserve water resources."
Greece has faced acute drought conditions over the past two years, with the holiday season adding extra pressure on water resources, especially on islands which are popular tourist destinations.
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Critics of the proposal have raised concerns about the environmental impact on coastal regions from what might be pumped out back into the sea.
Meanwhile, wildfires in Greece have become more frequent in recent years during increasingly hot, dry summers linked to climate change.
Last year, hundreds of wildfires burned across the country, while some of the country's hottest-ever conditions were recorded.