Cyprus is facing a serious water shortage. Experts say this is mainly because of government mistakes, not just natural drought. The situation could become very bad by 2026. This is causing many political talks about managing water better.
Averof Neophytou, a former political leader, criticized the government's water plans. He spoke in parliament after a report on recent wildfires. Neophytou said the crisis is from a lack of planning. He believes it is a problem the country created itself.
The Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou, has received much criticism. Some people want her to resign. She is blamed for her handling of wildfires and not being ready for animal disease problems. A clear water strategy is missing. Households were asked to use 10% less water. However, critics say this is not enough to fix the bigger problems.
The government plans to build five new desalination plants. This is to get more water. But, local people strongly oppose this plan. For example, the Ayia Napa council is against the plants. They worry about the landscape and tourism. This shows a conflict between needing water and protecting nature.
Investigations found problems with the current water system. Old pipes lose about half of the water. This makes the shortage worse. Experts think reducing water loss to below 25% would be a big improvement. The current system is in a poor state.
Israel manages its water well. They recycle 95% of their water. Cyprus is criticized for not using similar recycling methods. Experts question why this successful solution is not used more.
The desalination plants will use a lot of energy. It is suggested they should use solar power. Cyprus has a lot of sunshine. This would help the electricity company. It would also make water production more sustainable.
The year 2026 is a warning for Cyprus. The country needs a good national water policy. If the approach does not change, the crisis will be caused by bad management.