Problems with the water supply in Rethymno due to low water levels in Lake Kournas. Similar problems in Heraklion and Ierapetra and extreme drought in eastern Crete.
Problems with the water supply in Rethymno
Some of the city’s higher neighborhoods keep running into water supply headaches because of the sources they depend on. These areas get their water mostly from a handful of natural springs and a single lake.
The regional development organization decides who gets what, handling the distribution and juggling the supply.
Last week, one of the main water sources just didn’t deliver a steady flow. The result? Reservoirs in parts of the city ran dry, and people woke up to empty taps.
The service provider jumped in, pulling water from other backup wells and sources to get things moving again.
They patched things up for now by keeping a reduced but steady flow from the lake and boosting supply from elsewhere. Still, the lake’s reserves look alarmingly low, and honestly, another shortage seems likely as summer drags on.
Folks living in these affected neighborhoods really need to keep water use to the essentials. It’s not ideal, but if everyone pitches in, maybe it’ll keep things from getting worse.
If you’re up in the higher-altitude zones, it’s smart to stash some extra water in small containers. That way, you won’t be caught off guard if the supply cuts out again.
Key Points |
Details |
|---|---|
Primary water sources |
Springs and lake managed by regional body |
Cause of recent shortage |
Unsteady flow from main lake source |
Immediate actions taken |
Use of backup wells and increased supply |
Risk of future shortages |
High, due to low water reserves |
Public advice |
Restrict water use to essential needs |
Suggested preparation |
Use of small water storage containers |
Lake Kourna Sends Alarm Signals – Critical Levels at Aposolemi Dam
The water situation on Crete just keeps getting worse. Lake Kourna, which so many people and farms rely on in Rethymno and Apokoronas, is now at worryingly low water levels.
Right now, the lake sits at about 3.35 metres—way too close to the historic low from 2018. That’s a bad sign, especially for a place that usually gets plenty of rain.
Meanwhile, the Aposolemi Dam, which keeps Heraklion and Lasithi running, is under real pressure. Its volume is down to just 4 million cubic metres—only 16% of what it can hold.
Forecasts suggest it’ll dip even lower soon, which is, frankly, not what anyone wants to hear.
Other dams on the island? It’s a mixed bag:
Dam Name |
Location |
Water Volume (million m³) |
Capacity Filled (%) |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Potamon Dam |
Rethymno |
20 |
90 |
Healthy water levels |
Agios Georgios Tank |
– |
60 |
Moderate capacity |
|
Valsamioti Dam |
Not specified |
0 |
0 |
Non-operational, damaged |
Water still flows to some areas, but it’s limited. Lake Kourna currently sends about 300 cubic metres per hour to Rethymno and 15 cubic metres per hour to Georgioupoli, making sure at least basic irrigation and drinking needs are covered.
After some maintenance work tied to the new airport in Kasteli, water is finally flowing again to Agios Nikolaos from the Apokoronas pipeline. The system is refilling now, and with any luck, water will reach its destination by the weekend.
These critical shortages really show the pressure from the dry spell. It’s hard not to worry about whether there’ll be enough for households and farms this summer.
Heraklion: Water from Aposelemis dam Arrives Slowly
Heraklion’s water situation is still on thin ice. The city only gets about 300 cubic metres per hour from the Aposelemis dam right now, even though they were supposed to ramp up to 450 cubic metres per hour at the start of July.
This shortfall stings even more with summer’s heat and the tourist crowds piling in.
The water utility says the dam’s ozonation plant keeps causing problems, so they can’t risk pushing more water through and breaking the equipment. With the region so dry, everyone’s on edge hoping the supply doesn’t drop any further.
Network upgrades—about 250 km of new pipeline—have helped cut leaks, but it’s not enough to meet the extra demand. Neighborhoods like Kaminia and Therissos will probably see the biggest improvement once more water finally comes through safely.
Honestly, it feels a bit like everyone’s just crossing their fingers that nothing else breaks. If the current 300 cubic metres per hour stops, Heraklion could face a real crisis.
Key Points |
Details |
|---|---|
Current supply |
300 m³/hour from Aposelemis dam |
Scheduled supply |
450 m³/hour planned since early July |
Main issue |
Ozonation plant faults at the treatment site |
Network upgrades |
250 km new pipeline reducing leaks |
High demand sources |
Summer heat, tourism |
Most affected areas |
Kaminia, Therissos |
Regional condition |
Eastern Crete drought |
Urgency |
Avoid loss of current water flow |
The water authority keeps testing things to see if they can safely boost the flow without risking another breakdown. It’s a tough balancing act, and the city’s just hoping to get through the summer without more restrictions.
Urgent Water Shortage in Ierapetra
Ierapetra is in a tight spot with its water shortage. Demand at the Bramianoi Reservoir keeps outpacing supply, and the new borehole near Sarakina Gorge in Mythoi—which could add 600 cubic metres of good water per hour—still isn’t up and running.
This delay is making people nervous, especially greenhouse and olive growers who need that water. The Myrtos and Malavra springs just can’t keep up with summer irrigation needs.
Even though the borehole license request went in months ago, red tape has dragged the process out by eight months. After three years of drought, this really puts the area’s water security at risk before the winter rains finally come.
Right now, they’re pulling about 44,000 cubic metres a day from the Bramianoi Reservoir, but only 34,000 cubic metres get replaced. That’s a daily loss of 10,000 cubic metres, which chips away at reserves even when most greenhouses are supposed to be on break before the next season.
Key Water Usage Figures:
Source |
Daily Input (m³) |
Daily Consumption (m³) |
Daily Deficit (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|
Boreholes & Springs |
34,000 |
44,000 |
10,000 |
Officials are urging everyone to conserve water however they can. Getting that borehole running is absolutely crucial if the area wants to keep crops alive and make it through another dry stretch.
Severe Drought Conditions in Lasithi: A Clear Sign of a Dry Climate Zone
The latest drought map from 1 July 2025 puts Lasithi in eastern Crete under extreme dry conditions.
Soil moisture, especially between 28 and 100 centimetres down, is way below what’s normal for early summer. That deep layer matters a lot for crops—no moisture there, and plants just don’t thrive.
The Standardised Soil Moisture Index (SSMI) measures drought from mild (level 1) to extreme (level 5).
Lasithi mostly sits at levels 4 and 5, which means things are intense or even extreme right now.
This dryness threatens the region’s:
- Agricultural sector, especially crops like olives, vegetables, and grapes
- Local ecosystems that depend on sufficient water supply
- Water resources crucial for daily life and farming
Lasithi faces more water stress than other parts of Crete, like Heraklion and Chania. The plains around Ierapetra, the Lasithi Plateau, and the semi-mountainous spots near Sitia all feel the pinch.
Soil moisture here has dropped sharply below the average from 1991 to 2020.
Key factors behind this situation include:
- Low rainfall
- High evapotranspiration rates
- Limited water infiltration and retention in the soil
If these trends keep up, the soil could soon become pretty much useless for healthy crops. Farmers are already under pressure, and water shortages just make things worse.
Drought Level |
Description |
Impact on Soil Moisture |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Mild |
Slightly below average |
2 |
Moderate |
Noticeably dry |
3 |
Severe |
Markedly low moisture |
4 |
Intense |
Very low moisture, crop stress |
5 |
Extreme |
Critically low moisture, crop failure risk |
