Author(s): Elpida Kolokytha
Linked Author(s): Elpida Kolokytha
Keywords: Water privatization; Urban use; Greece; Water pricing; Demand management; EYATh
Abstract: Major concern of the environmental crisis, refer to climate change. Water scarcity and extreme events, as well as degradation of water quality are some of the impacts of climate change to urban water. In the light of climate change, increasing supply uncertainty, in other words, decreasing water supplies impose demand management as a central option to achieve water conservation. Basic tool towards water conservation is water pricing. Water utilities should organize and communicate risks from climate impacts and potential gains from adaptation to both stakeholders and citizens. This paper discusses the trend of water privatization in Greece and the consequences of such a choice, by analyzing water consumption and water pricing data from the water utility of the city of Thessaloniki, EYATh, which is one out of two water utilities in Greece (also EYDAP in Athens) which is in the process of becoming semi-private, both serving more than half the population of the whole country. Also insights towards the economic result for Greece of privatizing the residential water use are discussed.
Year: 2015