An ancient Roman aqueduct, a legacy of Hadrian, will help combat the heat in the Greek capital. How?
Euronews tells that, despite being accustomed to traditional heat, this year Athenians faced prolonged and sharp rises in temperature. In June and July, the issues of lowering temperatures and saving water in Athens became more pressing than everespecially considering that this part of Europe is one of the fastest warming places on Earth. In 2024, there were two severe heat waves with temperatures exceeding 40°C.
It was decided to use ancient Roman engineering solutions to create more green areas that provide the desired coolness. The idea being developed is Greening the Greek capital using water from the city's ancient Roman aqueduct.
The construction of the aqueduct was begun by order of the Emperor Hadrian and completed around 140 AD. It runs approximately 23 km from Mount Parnitha, north of the capital, to the very center of Athens. Most of the aqueduct runs underground and operates through groundwater infiltration..
Hadrian's Aqueduct is connected by a series of boreholes that penetrate the water table. In the municipality of Chalandri, part of the ancient structure is being brought back to life with the help of pilot project Cultural HIDRANT. Its director, Christos Giovanopoulos, says:
“The Hadrianic aqueduct has no obvious source from which the water can flow elsewhere. It takes water from the ground along its entire route, and that's important because the more water you use, the more water you get back. It enriches the water resources we use.”
Once the ambitious project is completed, residents of the Halandri area will be able to use the non-potable water supply system to water their gardens or clean their areas. All they will need to do is connect to the pipelines running alongside the aqueduct or use the municipal water trucks. Christos Giovanopoulos explains:
“Hadrian's Aqueduct is still functioning and still delivering water that is now being discharged into the sea. When the new non-potable water pipelines start working, we plan to save 80,000 cubic meters of water per year.”
Athens is one of the hottest and most populous cities in Europe. There is now hope that The extra water will create and feed a green corridor along the aqueduct's route, helping to lower temperatures in the Greek capital.
An important aspect of the project is Changing people's habits. They need to be motivated to use water differently so that less drinking water is wasted. Director of Strategy and Innovation at Athens Water and Wastewater Company ΕΥΔΑΠ Giorgos Sachinis says:
“The ultimate goal of the project is to create a culture of behavior in Athens. We want more green spaces and less drinking water to be wasted for non-drinking purposes, and this project is just the beginning of a long journey in this direction.”
Restoring abandoned water sources and greening urban areas are increasingly seen as ways to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development. The project's proponents in Halandri stress that the involvement of residents and the creation of a local association dedicated to preserving this valuable water resource for the future have been key to the initiative's success. But the long-term strategy is to expand the project to the entire town and beyond. Christos says:
“There are plans to expand to other areas of Athens where Hadrian's Aqueduct passes. We have also started collaborations with five or six other European cities, combining cultural heritage to make cities greener, more sustainable and more livable.”
The reconstruction of Hadrian's Aqueduct aims to create more green space in Athens and reduce extreme temperatures. Euronews, together with the European Commission, promotes the campaign EU Water Wise — #WaterWiseEU. The Water Matters series and EU campaign aim to raise awareness of the growing pressure on Europe's water systems and the need for sustainable water management.
Water Matters will cover a variety of water-related issues to remind on the importance of protecting nature and ecosystems, which are an integral part of the water cycle. Through engaging content, Euronews and the European Commission hope to inspire individuals and communities to be more water conscious (#WaterWiseEU).
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