As the Greek government announced water-conservation measures for the country as a whole, Governor Serafeim Tsokas of Crete announced his own plan to regulate the drilling of wells and build seawater desalination units. Calling this year's drought "a battle for water" that will require cooperation among farmers, water experts, the government, and every resident of the island, Tsokas vowed to crack down on illegal wells and the illicit sale of water by property-owners to outside parties. New wells may no longer be drilled within 200 m of the coast and they're entirely prohibited in Tylissos, Gazi, Foinikia, Gioukhtas, Arkhanes, Neas Alikarnassos, Episkopi, Khersonissos, Mallia, Arkalokhori, Thrapsano, Kastellio, Viannos, and Tymbaki, among other towns.