Rescue for Athens: Aqueduct a thousand years old against the heat!

Rescue for Athens: Aqueduct a thousand years old against the heat!

Athen, Griechenland - In Athens, an impressive piece of history is brought back to life: the almost 2,000 -year -old Hadrian aqueduct, once built under the Roman Emperor Hadrian, is to be reactivated due to the pressing challenges of climate change. The Greek capital has struggled with extreme temperatures in June 2024 over 40 degrees Celsius in recent years. These devastating heat waves required immediate measures. The aqueduct will be used in the future to provide rustic water for irrigation of gardens, parks and agricultural areas and thus protect drinking water, as from reports of np-coburg.de

a mammoth project with European support

The 23 -kilometer -long aqueduct, which runs under the streets of Athens and still shows wells in many places, is considered an architectural masterpiece of ancient times. It connects the Parnitha mountains with the city and has been preserved in a remarkable condition. The reactivation takes place under the patronage of the Athens Ministry of Culture and is supported by the EU as part of the project #waterwiseeu , which is committed to water protection and resource efficiency in Europe. Due to the lack of oxygen in the urban water systems, this measure is considered crucial to cover the growing water requirement of the capital.

The restarting of the aqueduct requires comprehensive work, including the expansion of new cables, to bring the water to the users. Nevertheless, through this initiative, the authorities hope for a cultural change towards more green areas and a more conscious handling of drinking water. It is estimated that up to 80,000 cubic meters of water can be saved annually in the Athens suburb of Chalandri alone. Katerina Dimitrou, head of the Athens waterworks, emphasizes the need to use this historical waterway for modern water supply and thus give water as a valuable good.