Discover how Archanes–Asterousia, the Greek pilot site of the RESWATER project, is building on years of sustainable water management to strengthen water resilience and demonstrate innovative solutions for Mediterranean communities.
The Municipality of Archanes–Asterousia in Crete, Greece, has become an example of how long-term planning and innovation can strengthen water resilience in Mediterranean communities. As the Greek pilot site of the RESWATER project, the municipality is building on years of investment in sustainable water management while contributing to the development of practical solutions that can benefit communities across the region.
RESWATER – Non-Conventional Water Resources for Resilient Urban Water Management in the Mediterranean – aims to strengthen water security and resilience by promoting the use of Non-Conventional Water Resources (NCWR), supporting safe water reuse, and advancing sustainable urban water management.
Working closely with the Municipality of Archanes–Asterousia and local stakeholders, GWP-Med, the Greek partner of RESWATER, is helping demonstrate innovative approaches that respond to growing water challenges across the Mediterranean.
Over the years, the municipality has transformed the way it manages its water resources. Faced with increasing pressure on groundwater and the impacts of climate change, it has progressively adopted a more integrated and sustainable approach to water management.
This transition has been supported through a series of national measures, including water demand management policies, the regulation of irrigation water consumption through a prepaid smart-card system, the deployment of telemetry and remote monitoring technologies, and continued investment in upgrading the drinking water distribution network. In collaboration with the Municipality, the local water utility is replacing ageing pipelines, expanding telemetry systems to detect leakages, reducing water losses, and improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the network.
The RESWATER project comes at a particularly important time for Crete, where prolonged droughts and climate change continue to place increasing pressure on available water resources. By building on existing good practices and demonstrating innovative solutions, the project aims to support more resilient urban water management and encourage knowledge exchange across the Mediterranean.
Through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, partners are working together to develop practical solutions that can strengthen water resilience and contribute to a more sustainable future for Mediterranean communities.
Last Update
01/07/2026
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