ATHENS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Greek government on Thursday unveiled a 2.5-billion-euro (2.89 billion U.S. dollars) plan to improve water management and address worsening drought across the country.
Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou announced the plan, which aims to secure water for the major urban areas of Attica and Thessaloniki while supporting desalination projects in other regions.
The plan includes new desalination plants, upgrades to reduce leakage, and connections between reservoirs and rivers to boost supply. It will also cover drought-prone regions such as Crete, the Peloponnese, Thessaly and the Aegean islands.
Water levels in Attica's main reservoirs have dropped sharply, with total reserves falling to 377 million cubic meters -- down from 597 million last year. Without more rainfall, officials warn the region could face shortages within two years.
To fund the program, household water bills will rise by 2 to 3 euros per month. Officials said Greece's water prices will remain among the lowest in the European Union even after the adjustment. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollar) ■
