With the first days of summer, the water supply to many of our local areas is alternated day by day, and the term “water shortage” becomes a mainstay of our daily language.

It is a nightmarish scenario. Can we even conceive of our planet with lakes and rivers drying up and where faucets would stop running?

Due to the meteorological changes resulting in less water, discussions about the “water shortage” are on the rise as people realize the problem is mostly due to “bad management of the resources”.

Unfortunately, it is a universal phenomenon – not only in our townships – and must be dealt as such.

There are areas in our planet where people die either from water shortage or unfit water.  And, although the largest portion of the earth’s surface is under water, a very small part of this water is potable. And, even that small percentage is further lessened by pollution and wrongful management.

According to statistics, one fifth of the world’s population doesn’t have clean potable water and 6000 children die daily from diseases related to the “clean water shortage”.

Knowing then the importance and the need for this natural commodity, and the results from a possible shortage, we all must find ways to preserve what was originally given to us in abundance.

Our government must manage it correctly, and we citizens must conserve it as best as we possibly can.

So let’s review a few rules on the conservation of water, keeping in mind that for too many summers now we have water in our homes perhaps once or twice a week.

First of all, check all plumbing for possible leaks. A dripping faucet drips, in one year, will fill a bathtub 35 times. Other water-saving rules include:

·        Turn the faucet off while brushing teeth or soaping hands or hair.

·        Take short showers and don’t flush in vain or install a dual flushing system.

·        Rinse fruits in a bowl and use rinse water for the garden.

·        Keep a water bottle in the fridge for “cold” water so you don’t have to run the tap water until it cools..

·        Water your garden early morning or late evening so water won’t just dissipate in the hot sun.

·        Wash the car and balcony with a pail and sponge/mop and not with a hose.

·        Fill dish washer and washing machine before turning them on.  

Keep in mind those awful pictures of bloated and dehydrated children before wasting even a drop of this valuable commodity.

And then, there is the water issue in the Gouves Township!

There are two pre-existing water issues, and both of them end up with the same result: Not enough water for locals and tourists.

One issue concerns the western part of the township encompassing Anopolis, Ellia, Kato and Ano Vathia, Kokkini Hani, Gournes and Karteros. These areas get their water from the Association which, in turn, gets its supply from Episkopi.

The other issue concerns the township’s eastern part that is Gouves, Koxari, Kalo Horio, Voritsio and Harasso, where there is a relative self sufficiency as the water is drawn from the villages themselves.

However, within the entire township there is a severe water shortage, especially during the summer months, not only because there is an increased demand but also because there are no new water drawing sources.

According to Vice Mayor Yiorgo Merambeliotaki, “our municipal council has approved the amount of 100.000 euros to drill five research water wells in Elia, Pano Vathia, Koxari, Kalo Horio and Harasso, hoping to reinforce existing water conditions.”

When asked how he perceives the Water Association’s future, Episkopi Mayor, Mr. Rothitakis noted: “the Association must seriously re-evaluate and regroup so that the water I know exists is better distributed to the people.”

Gouves Mayor Yiorgos Nikolakakis labeled the water issue as “perhaps the most crucial matter” in the township.

 “It demands correct management, economy and a great deal of attention,” he stated. “Our water networks were constructed in different and older eras; they are not uniform and need extensive repairs which we try to do. However, in most cases a completely new network is needed.”

However, he concluded by saying: “Unfortunately, all that is codependent to the city planning application effort in our demos, especially in the beach front areas. Farmland irrigation water as well as potable water networks have about the same problems.”

While everyone in local government is acutely aware of this critical problem, the bottom line is, for now at least, we’re in for another season of “dry” days – so let’s conserve!