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 to have a wider applicability. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.