Crete Region unveils water management strategy

Stavros Arnaoutakis, the Governor of Crete, has presented a new strategic water management plan centered on three primary pillars to address the challenges posed by climate change, such as droughts and flooding.

The strategy treats the island as a single unit with a shared aquifer. The first pillar focuses on water as a guarantee for life and prosperity, linking its security to the primary sector and tourism. The second pillar emphasizes climate resilience and technological innovation, including the upgrading of networks, smart irrigation systems, and the use of recovered water through a circular economy. The third pillar focuses on modern governance and digital transition.

To support these goals, the Region aims to achieve energy autonomy for irrigation companies (TOEV) using renewable energy, which could reduce operational costs by 50%. Arnaoutakis noted that existing infrastructure was designed for a previous climate reality and emphasized that the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of prevention.