- Following days of relentless downpours, the Aposelemi Dam surged by 11 million cubic meters, pushing total reserves past 20.3 million cubic meters and exceeding 85% capacity.
- The dramatic refill guarantees stable water supplies for the municipalities of Heraklion, Hersonissos, and Agios Nikolaos through 2030.
- In Rethymno, the Potamoi Dam sits just 40 centimeters below the overflow level at 21 million cubic meters, while Lake Kournas has reached a steady 4.7 meters.
- Hersonissos Mayor Zacharias Doxastakis is calling for greater local government involvement in water resource management. At the same time, ODK CEO Aris Papadogiannis noted that drainage tunnels and spillways operated at full tilt, but the sheer volume rushing down from the Lasithi Plateau was historic.
After years of worrying about water shortages, Crete has something rather more encouraging to talk about: water. Lots of it.
Heavy rainfall over the past few days has dramatically increased reserves at the Aposelemis Dam, which has now passed 85% capacity, with more than 20.3 million cubic meters of water stored.
The dam gained approximately 11 million cubic meters following the recent rains, bringing the reservoir close to overflowing.
A Much-Needed Water Reserve
The increase is particularly significant because Aposelemis is a major water source for the municipalities of Heraklion, Hersonissos, and Agios Nikolaos.
The current reserves are expected to secure water supplies for these areas through 2030, providing a substantial buffer after years of drought and water scarcity in Crete.
But while the numbers are welcome, officials are still focused on safety.
According to Aris Papagiannis, CEO of the Organization for the Development of Crete, the recent weather events were unprecedented in their intensity. He said the priority remains infrastructure safety.
The dam’s outlet tunnel is operating normally, and the floodgate is open. However, the system could not absorb all the water rushing down from the Lasithi Plateau.
Potami Dam Is Nearly There Too
Aposelemis is not the only reservoir to experience a sudden change in fortunes.
The Potami Dam in Rethymno is also nearing overflow, with water levels at about 21 million cubic meters.
That puts the reservoir just 40 centimeters below its overflow point. Meanwhile, Lake Kournas’s water level has reached 4.7 meters.
After months and years of hearing about drought, depleted reservoirs, and the increasingly complicated water equation facing Crete, reservoirs filling this quickly is welcome news.
The challenge now is managing that abundance safely — and making sure the island gets maximum benefit from the water it has managed to collect.
Who Manages Crete’s Water?
The sudden surge in water reserves is also bringing water governance back into the conversation.
Hersonissos Mayor Zacharias Doxastakis has called for greater participation by local authorities in decisions about managing Aposelemis and the island’s wider water resources.
His argument is straightforward: municipalities that depend directly on the reservoir should have a meaningful role in decisions that affect its operation and responses to critical situations.
Given how quickly Crete has gone from worrying about not having enough water to dealing with reservoirs approaching overflow, coordination matters.