Crete Reservoirs Refill After Heavy Rain as Water Crisis Eases

by · Greek City Times

Key Takeaways

  • Crete’s reservoirs significantly improved after heavy rainfall, easing water supply concerns after two years of drought.
  • The Aposelemis dam is over 85% full, while the Potamon reservoir overflowed for the first time in October, aiding drinking water and irrigation.
  • Despite the positive changes, long-term water security remains vulnerable due to previous droughts and high consumption in agriculture.
  • Crete plans major water infrastructure projects, including a €25 million water treatment plant for Rethymno and upgrades at the Valsamiotis dam.
  • Exceptional rainfall recorded from 1 to 18 October highlights the need for efficient management to preserve water during dry seasons.

Crete’s major reservoirs have recorded a dramatic recovery following weeks of heavy rainfall, easing concerns over drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation after two years of drought.

The Aposelemis dam, a key source of drinking water for eastern Crete, is now more than 85% full, holding approximately 20.7 million cubic metres of water.

The Potamon reservoir in the Amari area of Rethymno has also reached 22.5 million cubic metres and overflowed, an unprecedented development for October, according to figures reported by To Vima.

Read more: Thessaly Could Turn into a Desert Without Urgent Action

The improvement represents a significant turnaround from February, when Aposelemis contained just 1.35 million cubic metres, with fewer than 700,000 cubic metres available for water supply to the municipalities of Heraklion, Hersonissos and Agios Nikolaos.

Aris Papadogiannis, chief executive of the Organization for the Development of Crete, said the current reserves at Aposelemis provide the island’s eastern region with the prospect of meeting its water needs for the next two years.

The reservoir supplies drinking water to as many as 450,000 people during the peak tourist season.

Meanwhile, the Potamon reservoir’s reserves are considered sufficient to meet local irrigation requirements for approximately three years.

Heavy rainfall reverses two years of water shortages

The recovery follows two consecutive years of reduced rainfall and persistent drought that placed significant pressure on water resources across Greece.

Crete was among the regions most seriously affected, with several municipalities facing emergency conditions in 2024.

The Messara plain also experienced severe pressure on agricultural production as the Faneromeni dam, an important source of irrigation water, fell to critically low levels amid limited rainfall, high temperatures and increased water extraction.

Water shortages also affected the wider country. In Attica, declining reservoir reserves prompted the government to declare a water supply emergency in November 2025, as supplies for the greater Athens area approached historically low levels.

Although rainfall during the 2025-26 hydrological year has helped replenish reservoirs, experts warn that the island’s long-term water security remains vulnerable.

Agriculture accounts for approximately 75% to 80% of Crete’s water consumption, making more efficient irrigation systems and reductions in water losses essential to managing future demand.

Major water infrastructure projects planned

Despite the improved reservoir levels, officials say Crete still needs substantial investment in its water infrastructure and better coordination of water resources.

One of the major projects under consideration is a €25 million water treatment plant at the Potamon dam. The facility is intended to strengthen drinking water supplies to Rethymno and surrounding tourist areas over the next three years.

Further interventions are planned at the Valsamiotis dam in Chania, which has experienced persistent leakage and cannot retain its full designed capacity.

Studies have been prepared to address the water losses and develop a pipeline network that would allow water to be transferred to the Chania plain for irrigation.

The proposed works are estimated to cost approximately €14 million. Discussions are also under way with the relevant ministries over the possibility of the Organization for the Development of Crete assuming responsibility for managing the dam.

Crete records exceptional rainfall

The scale of the recent rainfall is reflected in measurements from the National Observatory of Athens.

Between 1 and 18 October, the Xyloskalo weather station in the Samaria area of Chania recorded 1,011 millimetres of rain, a record for the station.

Other significant measurements included 764 millimetres in the Samaria Gorge, 693 millimetres in Anogeia in Rethymno and more than 500 millimetres at Potamoi in Lasithi.

The replenishment of Crete’s reservoirs offers welcome relief to communities, farmers and the island’s tourism industry.

However, officials face the longer-term challenge of ensuring that the water collected during periods of heavy rainfall can be stored, distributed and managed efficiently through future dry seasons.

Source: To Vima

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