In November 2024, ERT reported that Crete faced an acute water shortage after two years of persistent drought. Lake Kournas near Georgioupoli had fallen to 2.2 metres, against an average peak of 7.5 metres. The Aposelemis dam, which supplies Heraklion, Hersonissos and Agios Nikolaos, held only 12% of its 25.3 million m³ capacity. Aris Papadogiannis, CEO of the Development Organisation of Crete, announced on air for the first time that desalination facilities were being planned for the island.
The report showed how a prolonged drought put desalination on the agenda even for a large island with its own reservoirs. The announcement did not yet name any sites or capacities.
Source: ERT