The water reserves of Lake Kournas are running low. Is desalination of seawater a solution?
The water reserves of Lake Kournas, which supplies the municipalities of Rethymno and Apokoronas with water, are severely depleted.
At 2.23 metres, the water level has reached a low that has not been recorded in recent years.
A long period of drought and continuous water extraction for supply purposes are having a noticeable impact on the region.
This brings the consequences of climate change even closer to people’s everyday lives.
Some higher-altitude areas such as Mastambas, Koumbes and Sarakina have already experienced water supply problems.
Repair work began yesterday on the water treatment plant, which should soon bring about an improvement – but no one knows exactly when.
DEYAR is examining alternative scenarios to solve the problem
The city’s water supply is facing major challenges.
The surface of Lake Kournas is sinking rapidly – experts warn that the lake could dry up completely in a few days if it does not finally rain.
Then it would no longer be possible to extract water.
DEYAR is therefore looking for solutions to overcome the water shortage.
Various options are under discussion:
- Drilling new wells: New wells are being considered in order to tap into underground water reserves.
- Water transport by tanker lorry: Water is transported from other areas to bridge shortages.
- Desalination plants: Seawater could be treated to obtain drinking water.
- Cooperation with regional administration: Discussions are underway as to whether the region should manage the dam project itself and sell water to DEYAR.
The urgency of the situation cannot be overlooked – immediate action is needed to prevent a real supply crisis.
DEYAR has launched a five-year strategic project, running from 2024 to 2028, to address long-term infrastructure measures.
Table of possible measures and their characteristics
Measure | Advantages | Disadvantages | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Drilling new wells | Independence from the lake, longer-term solution | Cost and time required | Under review |
Water transport by tanker | Quick relief | Expensive, dependent on external supply | Partially in use |
Desalination | Unlimited resource | High energy requirements, expensive technology | Concept phase |
Regional water procurement | Cooperation with neighbouring region | Dependency, need for negotiation | Discussions ongoing |
The weather model forecasts are sobering.
There is only about a 10% chance of a normal rainfall year – in other words, rain remains unlikely.
DEYAR uses this data to continuously adjust its planning and have contingency plans in place.
Teams of experts monitor the situation daily and inform the population as soon as anything changes.
Even if pipes or facilities are repaired at short notice, this will not be enough to resolve the water crisis.
Without rain and new water supplies, the situation remains critical – there is no way to sugarcoat it.
Key points:
- Lake Kournas is the main source of water for the city.
- A lack of rain will cause the lake to dry up completely (‘close’).
- Alternative sources and emergency measures are being prepared, but there is no easy solution.
- The population will be informed about future restrictions.
The ongoing drought has ‘dried up’ Lake Kournas
Water levels in Lake Kournas have fallen to a historic low of just 2.23 metres.
A long period of drought and the constant withdrawal of water to supply the towns of Rethymnon and Apokoronas are the main causes.
This has led to a deterioration in water quality.
The water treatment plant in Dramia was no longer able to filter the water properly and suffered a serious malfunction.
As a result, the water supply in Rethymnon was temporarily suspended.
The Organisation for the Development of Crete (OAK) announced that repairs would be carried out within 24 hours, but was not sure whether this would be possible.
There had already been problems the day before in higher districts such as Mastambas, Sarakina and Koumbes.
These areas get their water from the Gállos reservoir, which in turn uses western sources.
The local water supplier DEYAR is currently trying to use alternative water sources such as the Potamon dam for the affected areas.
Vice-President Dimitris Leledakis promised to exhaust all available options to minimise the inconvenience to citizens.
If the water treatment plant is not repaired quickly, water supply problems in the higher neighbourhoods could increase.
OAK President Theodoros Ninos emphasised that further rainfall is urgently needed to ease the situation.
Without rain, the situation remains tense – and, to be honest, there is no sign of improvement at the moment.
Important facts about Lake Kournas and the water supply:
Topic | Details |
|---|---|
Current water level | 2.23 metres (historic minimum) |
Main consumers | Municipalities of Rethymnon and Apokoronas |
Cause of the problems | Prolonged drought, constant water extraction |
Consequences of the damage | Disruption to the water treatment plant |
Affected areas | Rethymnon, Mastambas, Sarakina, Koumbes |
Alternative water supply | Potamon dam |
Duration of water cut | At least 24 hours (as of 29 November 2025) |
Recommendations from the authorities:
- Save water wherever possible
- Show understanding for the restrictions
- Pay attention to information about supply levels
Water will remain scarce if it does not rain soon.
The coming period will show how those responsible deal with the situation – in any case, there is not much room for manoeuvre.
Desalination is not a solution to water scarcity
Professor Lefkás states quite clearly: Desalinating seawater may sound like a quick solution to water scarcity, but it really isn’t. There are a whole host of problems that are easily underestimated or simply overlooked.
Important points about desalination and water scarcity:
Topic | Details |
|---|---|
Environmental impact | Desalination plants often discharge highly saline wastewater into the sea, which can harm marine life. |
High costs | Desalination consumes enormous amounts of energy, making it an expensive and rather complex process. |
Technical challenges | These plants are complicated and require constant maintenance and monitoring. |
Lefkás believes that the most important water reserves are actually found in groundwater. We could make much better use of this water instead of immediately resorting to desalination.
However, he warns that unplanned and uncontrolled use of groundwater can quickly become dangerous. Especially on islands, where the problem is particularly acute, many people are tapping into the reserves too heavily – sometimes even just to fill swimming pools.
Measures for better water use:
- Jointly manage and better protect groundwater reserves
- Use technical solutions to replenish groundwater reservoirs after forest fires
- Avoid hybrid measures that could harm the environment
Lefkás sees desalination as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted. He believes that this technology should only be used in a very targeted manner and with great caution.
Facts about water scarcity and desalination in figures:
- Energy consumption for 1 cubic metre of desalinated water: approximately 3-4 kWh
- Salt content in wastewater from desalination: can be up to 50% higher than in seawater
- Cost of desalination projects: often several million euros per plant
Groundwater remains one of our most important resources – and, to be honest, we often treat it rather carelessly. If we finally started using this treasure properly, we might be able to save ourselves the expense and controversy of desalination plants for the time being.
