Water supply to the city of Heraklion and the town of Agios Nikolaos, as well as to 19 other smaller settlements, on the Greek island of Crete, has been improved following a project to increase the capacity of the Aposelemi dam reservoir. Completion of the EU-funded project in 2019 ensures an adequate supply of quality water for 389 000 people, while protecting the environment. The structural changes made at the reservoir allow for better use of water from the Lassithi plateau.
- 10 December 2020
The project ensures water adequacy for 389 000 people, while protecting the environment.
Works carried out included water diversion works on the Lassithi plateau, such as isolation of sinks, building drainage ditches and water intakes. A 3 425 m-long water-transport tunnel, with a fall length of 3 550 m, was drilled and built.
In addition to the construction of access roads and connections with utility networks, permanent monitoring facilities were established and various electromechanical projects were undertaken.
Completion of the project means that there is now a sufficient supply of quality drinking water for Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos, and for an additional six municipalities and 19 settlements in the prefectures of Heraklion and Lassithi.
Boosting capacity
The dam was originally built to provide the water to the two main settlements, which lie in the east of the island. However, it lacked capacity to cover either current or future needs. The solution was to strengthen the reservoir to accommodate more surplus flood water from the Lassithi plateau.
Before completion of this project, much of the water from the plateau could not be properly collected or escaped through sink holes.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Water supply of Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos from the Aposelemi dam - Reservoir reinforcement works of the Aposelemi dam from the Lassithi plateau” is EUR 55 052 253, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 37 602 380 through the “Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency”.