Cyprus is currently grappling with a severe water crisis, as the inflow into its dams since October has been described as "tragic." This has resulted in critically depleted reserves, with dam levels plummeting to a mere 9.2% of their total capacity. The Water Development Department has reported that ongoing water consumption continues to significantly outpace the meagre rainfall received. This exacerbates a perennial vulnerability to drought that the island nation has long confronted.
The figures released by the department paint a stark picture of the current predicament facing the nation. By December 29th, the country's eighteen main dams held approximately 26.9 million cubic meters of water. This quantity represents a considerable shortfall when compared to historical averages for this period. Marios Chatzikostis, Chief Technical Engineer at the Water Development Department, highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that the total inflow since the beginning of October has amounted to a mere 1.7 million cubic meters. This figure starkly contrasts with the average inflow for the months of October, November, and December over the past three to four decades, which typically hovers around thirteen million cubic meters.
The significant disparity between consumption and supply is a primary driver of the dwindling reserves. While the cumulative inflow into reservoirs during the first twenty-nine days of December reached 1.418 million cubic meters, this was demonstrably insufficient to compensate for the water being drawn for various essential uses. Even a slight increase in storage between December 24th and 29th, adding approximately 170,000 cubic meters across the dam network, provided little solace. For any meaningful improvement, Mr. Chatzikostis emphasised, "average inflow would need to be between ten and twelve million cubic metres."
Compounding the issue, the recent rainfall, while welcome in certain areas, has not been as beneficial as it could have been. The Polis Chrysochous coastal region, along with Nicosia and Athienou, have experienced rainfall exceeding normal levels, with some areas recording 170% and 140% of their average respectively. However, this precipitation has largely occurred in coastal zones, with a significant portion of the rainfall being lost to runoff into the sea, rather than replenishing the crucial inland dam catchment areas. The Troodos mountains, a vital source of water, remain in desperate need of sustained, heavy rainfall and snowfall. The implications of this prolonged dry spell are far-reaching, potentially impacting the island's water security for years to come.