Cyprus is significantly enhancing its water purification capabilities in a determined effort to combat a severe and escalating water shortage. The island's reservoirs have reached critically low levels, standing at a precarious 11% capacity. This figure represents a stark decline from the 26% recorded at the same point last year, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The government has initiated a proactive strategy, which includes expanding its reliance on advanced desalination technology. Concurrently, stringent measures are being implemented to curtail consumption from alternative sources, notably golf courses located in the Paphos district.
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou has described the current state of water reserves as an "ongoing water shortage" and a "tragic situation." Recent rainfall, although present, has provided insufficient inflows to replenish the depleted reservoirs. Only 400,000 cubic metres of water were collected across all dams in the past 24 hours, with an additional million cubic metres anticipated over the next three days. This shortfall underscores a systemic vulnerability to erratic weather patterns. Cyprus recently received a meagre 19 millimetres of rain, a fraction of the 150 millimetres recorded in Attica, Greece. Experts suggest that a substantial, sustained downpour exceeding 100 millimetres over two days would be necessary for meaningful recovery.
In response to this crisis, the Water Development Department is accelerating the deployment of desalination facilities. Two new mobile desalination units are scheduled for installation in February and March, strategically positioned near the Garyllis river in Limassol and adjacent to the city's port. These additions will increase the total number of operational desalination units to nine, collectively capable of producing 282,000 cubic metres of water daily. This volume is projected to satisfy 80% of the island's water supply demands. Furthermore, tenders have been released for three additional mobile units, which will contribute an extra 30,000 cubic metres per day. A new permanent unit planned for Mazotos is expected to yield a further 20,000 cubic metres daily.
Beyond bolstering supply, the government is mandating a reduction in water usage from less sustainable sources. Golf course operators in the Paphos district have been formally instructed to cease their reliance on mains water for irrigating greens by the onset of summer. This directive reflects a broader imperative to re-evaluate water consumption practices across various sectors. Marios Hadjicostis, Chief Technical Engineer at the Water Development Department, has indicated that an additional 45 million cubic metres of water is required to avert a more severe crisis. The increased reliance on desalination, while a crucial short-term solution, highlights the long-term challenge of securing water resources in an increasingly arid climate.