The Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Naxos Island: Enhancing Self-Sufficiency Through Traditional Techniques

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus represents a critical framework for sustainable resource management, particularly in water-scarce Mediterranean islands like Naxos, Greece. This research examines the interdependence of water, energy, and food systems on Naxos, a Cycladic island facing challenges from climate variability, tourism pressures, and agricultural demands. We assess the island's natural resources and evaluate current needs for residents and primary production sectors, highlighting inefficiencies in existing infrastructure such as desalination units and energy mixes reliant on fossil fuels. Using geospatial analysis via QGIS, the island was divided into 28 grid cells to quantify rainwater harvesting potential from rooftops, courtyards, and road networks. Annual precipitation data were integrated with land use patterns to estimate harvestable volumes, ranging from 5,800 m³/yr in coastal cells to over 200,000 m³/yr in mountainous areas. Prioritization of water needs focuses on domestic supply for permanent residents and irrigation for crops like potatoes, olives, and vineyards, while incorporating animal manure as a nutrient source to reduce fertilizer dependency and embedded energy costs. Traditional techniques, such as cisterns for rooftop collection and roadside swales/bioretention systems for runoff management, are proposed as low-energy, resilient solutions. Results indicate that optimized harvesting could cover a significant part of irrigation needs and alleviate desalination reliance, enhancing self-sufficiency.