This is happening right now, as consumption surges during the peak tourist season, reports EFE.

In response to this situation, authorities on the small island of Sifnos in the Cyclades archipelago have requested a state of emergency after discovering that water consumption in some areas in June has doubled compared to the same month last year.

A small island with 3,000 residents and 74 square kilometers, Sifnos was visited by 135,000 tourists last year.

"In some areas, consumption was double compared to June last year, and we estimate that between July and October, consumption will reach 300,000 cubic meters, while our supply capacity for this period is about 270,000 cubic meters", said Maria Nadali, the mayor of Sifnos, to EFE.

Due to the arid winter, the hottest on record in Greece, well water levels are at a minimum.

Additionally, the largest desalination unit on the island malfunctioned in June and stopped providing water for human use, causing supply interruptions; however, the situation has since normalized, the mayor said.

The numerous villas with large gardens and pools, built in recent years, worsen the situation on the island, and the local council has asked residents and tourists to ration water consumption.

"Although we have taken many measures, they are ineffective if people do not cooperate", emphasized Nadali.

The island's local council has warned that inspections will be conducted and access to the water supply may be restricted for those with excessive water consumption.

Aside from Sifnos, a state of emergency due to water shortages has also been declared in Leros in the Aegean Sea and in some regions of Crete and Kefalonia. In the islands of Karpathos and Serifos, restrictions on water use for pools have been imposed.

"Our reservoirs are almost empty, with enough water to cover five days of supply under normal conditions", warned Emanuil Kurletakis, deputy mayor of Minoa Pediada, located in central Crete.

Local authorities are drilling in hopes of finding new water sources, while, according to Kurletakis, olive and potato crops are seriously affected by the drought.

Additionally, on Naxos, the largest of the Cyclades, reservoirs are nearly empty, and needs are met with the help of desalination units and hundreds of wells scattered across the island.

However, as Dimitris Lianos, the mayor of this island with 20,000 residents, which is visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists, notes, there have been no issues with water supply to homes and local businesses so far.

"Naxos has always had great hydraulic potential, with many underground water sources", Lianos said, estimating that 70% of the water needs are covered by wells and drilling.

Nevertheless, farmers on the island, especially those growing the famous Naxos potatoes, complain that drought has severely affected this year's crops. Many of the wells they use have been contaminated with saltwater, which happens when, due to a lack of fresh water, salty water infiltrates, farmers explain.

Lianos acknowledged that water reserves have decreased in various regions of the island due to drought and high temperatures, but remains optimistic that the situation can improve with more infrastructure work, which will require an increase in state funds allocated to island municipalities.