This paper describes and evaluates the results of a study into the problems of freshwater production and shortages on the island of Cyprus. The use of a novel barometric flash-type desalinator, driven by otherwise waste-heat from the island's power-stations, is proposed as a means of increasing freshwater supplies. Mathematical models are described and used to investigate the thermodynamic performance and economic viability of the proposed system. Although water and electricity supply data for the island of Cyprus were used for the purposes of this investigation, the overall findings are thought have a wider applicability. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.