Αποσελέμης: ένα φράγμα που "διψάει", για να μη διψάσουμε εμείς

 Aposelemis: A dam that is “thirsty,” so that we don’t have to be.

 In region of Ηeraklion Crete, between the villages of Avdou and Potamies, where the Aposelemis River flows, a 63-meter-high dam forms a reservoir supplying water to Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. Water is transported to a treatment unit through pipelines and then distributed to homes. But how long will this last? In recent years, water levels have dropped rapidly. Since 2019, when the dam overflowed, water reserves have fallen from 25.3 to just 1.77 million cubic meters—only 7% of dam’s capacity. The water level now lies just 2 meters above the lowest pipeline, raising concerns about serious shortages up until summertime.

Photo from the dam (18/3/26). In 2019, the water covered the whole area outlined below the yellow line.

 

Sfendili in  2017, which was submerged and abandoned because of the dam. In 2019, the water covered the entire church.

Today, Sfendili village lies entirely out of the water

From the towers carrying the four intakes to the water treatment unit, only one is still below the water surface.

 

*All the photos  in this article belong to our school. We would like to thank Ms. Marina Kosmadaki, engineer at the water treatment plant at the Aposelemis Dam, for the valuable information she provided to us.