Officials in Athens are turning to a 2,000-year-old solution to address modern water shortages in a city battling rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall. Greece is reviving Hadrian’s Aqueduct, a Roman-era engineering marvel, to supply non-drinking water for everyday tasks like garden irrigation and street cleaning.
Built in 140 A.D. under Roman Emperor Hadrian, the aqueduct stretches over 12 miles beneath the city. The Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYDAP), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and local officials, is restoring this ancient system to help ease the strain on the city’s water supply.
To this day, the aqueduct maintains an underground tunnel spanning 23.7 km, which continues to collect water from subterranean aquifers and streams along its path as it crosses eight municipalities in Attica. It is regarded as a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering—the largest continuously operating underground project in Europe—and has been officially designated as a site of European Cultural Heritage.
The initiative, known as the “Cultural Hydrant” project, has received €3.1 million (USD 3.32 million) in funding from the European Union. It is the first network in Athens, Greece, to provide non-potable water for non-drinking purposes.
The goal is to reduce demand on the city’s reservoirs, which have reached their lowest levels in a decade due to climate change and increased water usage caused by wildfires.
#WorldWaterDay
In Athens, Hadrian responded to the fundamental need for water by commissioning the building of a new aqueduct. Its construction started in AD 125 and was completed fifteen years later in AD 140, during the reign of Antoninus Pius. pic.twitter.com/ag4KOqf3JA— Following Hadrian (@carolemadge) March 22, 2021
Residents support the project
The first irrigation network, currently under construction in Chalandri, a suburb of northern Athens, with a total budget of €3.13 million (co-financed by the EU via the UIA Cultural HID.R.A.N.T. program), is expected to save over 10,000 cubic meters of potable water and 45,000–90,000 cubic meters of total water annually.
The water will be disinfected to ensure it meets current legislative standards for irrigation and potentially other non-potable uses. This initiative will provide a guaranteed supply of high-quality non-potable water at a stable, low price without tiered billing. Residents will use the water for car washing, watering plants, and cleaning.
Project manager Christos Giovanopoulos emphasized the positive approach of offering an alternative water source rather than restricting usage. “You can discourage people from using water or encourage them to use other sources. This is more positive,” Giovanopoulos said recently.
A treasure hidden in plain sight
Despite its historical significance, many Athenians are unaware of the aqueduct’s existence. Its central reservoir lies beneath Dexameni Square, a popular spot known for its outdoor cinema and café.
Café owner Nektarios Nikolopoulos noted that most visitors are drawn by the café’s charm rather than the aqueduct’s history. “95% of customers don’t know the aqueduct exists. They know Dexameni for the café, not its history,” Nikolopoulos said.
A step toward sustainability
While the aqueduct’s contribution to the city’s overall water use is small, officials believe the long-term savings will be significant.
EYDAP President George Stergiou recently highlighted the importance of the project in promoting sustainable water practices. “It does not constitute a solution for water scarcity,” he said. “However, it signifies the beginning of a completely new era where, for uses such as irrigation and industrial purposes, potable water will not be used.”
He praised the aqueduct as “an invaluable cultural treasure” and proof of human ingenuity and lasting infrastructure.
Officials aim to expand the project to other municipalities along the aqueduct’s route, hoping to save over 250 million gallons of water yearly. As Greece grapples with the effects of climate change, the restored aqueduct offers a blend of historical wisdom and modern innovation.