Environmental risks and water resources management in Cycladic islands: the case of Andros

Abstract

Insular settings face a number of risks strongly intertwined with the limited water resources and the inability of local actors to provide sustainable management. The present study aims to describe the relation between water supply systems management and the growing vulnerability to hazards related to water scarcity, through the case of Andros Island, in Cyclades. To this end, a method for the calculation of annual water supply needs and the recording of technical problems and management deficiencies in water supply systems was developed. The analysis reveals that the increasing water demand and the water loss in water supply systems increase the vulnerability to water scarcity and related socio-economic risks in Andros.