As the year concludes, Cyprus’s crucial water infrastructure is facing a precarious situation, with eighteen main dams operating at critically low levels. Although December brought some welcome precipitation, the rainfall has been insufficient to significantly replenish dwindling reserves, leaving the Water Development Department grappling with a persistent deficit.
Current figures released on December 29th reveal a sobering reality: the island’s dams are holding only 9.2% of their total capacity, amounting to a mere 26.9 million cubic meters. This represents a negligible increase from the 9.3% recorded just six days earlier, underscoring the inadequacy of recent downpours to effect substantial change. While weather systems offered some relief, particularly along coastal regions, their impact on inland catchment areas, which are vital for reservoir replenishment, was considerably muted.
An analysis of cumulative inflows during the first twenty-nine days of December highlights a stark deficiency, with only 1.418 million cubic meters entering the dam network. This volume positions the current month’s contribution among the poorest December performances observed since 2015. For comparison, December of the preceding year witnessed inflows of approximately 5.71 million cubic meters, emphasizing the severity of the current shortfall. The period between December 23rd and December 29th specifically contributed a scant 170,000 cubic meters, a testament to the limited efficacy of recent weather patterns.
Several factors contribute to this ongoing water scarcity. A significant portion of December’s rainfall appears to have been lost to surface runoff, flowing directly into the sea rather than being captured within catchment areas. Furthermore, prevailing weather patterns did not deliver the sustained, heavy precipitation necessary to saturate the ground and allow for substantial replenishment of underground aquifers. The mountainous Troodos region, essential for snowmelt augmentation, and other inland areas did not receive the deluge required to make a tangible difference.
The implications of these critically low water levels are far-reaching, given the island's reliance on its dam network for potable water and agriculture. The Water Development Department is now keenly observing the coming weeks, hoping for a significant shift in meteorological conditions. The prospect of sustained rainfall at higher elevations, coupled with substantial snowfall, is paramount for any meaningful improvement in reservoir levels. Without such a turn of fortune, Cyprus faces the daunting prospect of continuing its water management strategies under considerable strain, necessitating careful consideration and proactive planning for future water security.