NEA SILATA, Greece -- Six weeks before harvest, there’s no water left in the ground for farmer Dimitris Papadakis’ olive grove in northern Greece, so he has started a new morning routine.

Each morning, joined by his son, he uses a truck to transport water from nearby sources. Utilizing a small generator, he connects the vehicle to irrigation pipes in an attempt to salvage what remains of his parched crop.

“Our wells have nearly dried up ... We are now reliant on tankers to water our fields,” explains Papadakis, who leads an agricultural cooperative in a village within Halkidiki, a popular tourist destination in northern Greece.

This summer, southern Europe has been relentlessly hit by consecutive heat waves, compounding the effects of below-average rainfall over the past three years. Areas of severe drought have expanded across the region. In Greece, the consequences include water scarcity, dried-up lakes, and even the tragic loss of wild horses.

The groundwater supply beneath Papadakis’ 270 olive trees is diminishing and becoming saltier, with the drought anticipated to cut his expected yield by half.

The water shortage has been intensified by a flourishing tourist season.

Kassandra, the westernmost tip of the peninsula, experiences a significant population surge during the summer months, with the year-round resident population of 17,000 ballooning to 650,000. This influx places an unsustainable strain on the region's water resources.

“We've witnessed a 30-40% decrease in water supply following three consecutive winters with minimal rainfall,” explains Anastasia Halkia, the local mayor.

Haroula Psaropoulou, a resident of the seaside village of Nea Potidea, is facing a difficult situation due to frequent water shortages that can last up to five days during the extreme heat.

“I reuse water from the bathroom sink and washing for my plants,” says the 60-year-old Psaropoulou. “I’ve even had to collect water from the sea for the toilet.”

According to the European Union’s Emergency Management Service, severe drought conditions currently affect areas surrounding the Black Sea, extending westward into northern Greece.

The Evros River, which forms the border between Greece and Turkey, is experiencing a severe drought that has led to increased levels of seawater in its delta. This influx of salt is harming the wild horses that rely on the river for drinking water.

“If the horses go without water for a week, they will die,” says Nikos Mousounakis, who is leading an effort to establish freshwater drinking stations for the horses. “Some of them are still in poor condition, but we hope that with continued assistance, they will recover.”

Lake Picrolimni in northern Greece, once a popular destination for mud baths, has transformed into a shallow basin of cracked earth this summer, dry enough to support the weight of a car.

“The lake has completely dried up because it hasn’t rained in two years,” local municipal chairman Costas Partsis explains. “It used to be full of water. People used to come and bathe in the muddy water. The clay has therapeutic properties for many ailments. No one came this year.”

Close by, Lake Doirani borders Greece’s northern region with North Macedonia. In recent years, the shoreline has receded by 300 meters (yards). Local officials are urging public works projects to restore the river’s water supply, mirroring calls from experts who emphasize the need for significant changes in water management to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change.

“We are experiencing an extended drought lasting approximately three years now, attributed to reduced rainfall and snowfall, a consequence of the climate crisis and inadequate water management,” says Konstantinos S. Voudouris, a professor of hydrogeology at the University of Thessaloniki. “The solution rests on three essential elements: conservation, storage, and reuse.”

Voudouris argues that outdated water systems are losing excessive amounts of water and that infrastructure improvements must concentrate on collecting and storing rainwater during the wet season, as well as reusing treated wastewater for agricultural purposes.

“These drought events will reoccur with greater intensity in the future,” Voudouris stated. “We must take action and plan ahead to minimize their impact… and we must adapt to this new reality.” ___ Follow AP coverage at: https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment