Cyprus's crucial water reservoirs are still at alarmingly low levels, despite a recent period of significant rainfall across the island. This situation paints a stark picture of the ongoing water scarcity crisis that the nation is facing. While the recent downpours offered a glimmer of hope, the incoming water volume has proven insufficient to substantially alleviate the deficit that has accumulated over many months of arid conditions. The Water Development Department has officially confirmed that the island's dams are far from their usual capacity, underscoring the persistent vulnerability of Cyprus's water security.
Over the past few days, a low-pressure system delivered approximately 43% of January's anticipated rainfall within a concentrated five-day period. This welcome precipitation contributed an estimated 1.134 million cubic metres of water to the Kouris Dam, which is the island's largest reservoir. However, when this volume is viewed in the context of the entire month, the total inflow to all Cypriot dams during the first thirteen days of January amounted to a mere 3.389 million cubic metres. This figure starkly contrasts with the substantial volumes that are required to effectively refill the vast capacities of the nation's water storage facilities.
The current state of the reservoirs is particularly concerning when compared to the same period in the previous year. The Kouris Dam, possessing a total capacity of 115 million cubic metres, is currently holding just 10.9 million cubic metres, equating to a meagre 9.5% fullness. This represents a significant decline from its 22.1% capacity twelve months prior. The situation is even more dire at other key reservoirs. Vyzakia Dam is practically empty, standing at a mere 0.2% of its capacity, a precipitous drop from 3% a year ago. Germasogeia Dam, which is vital for supplying water to the Limassol district, is at a critically low 1.2%, down from a healthier 27.7% last year. Similarly, Achna Dam, serving the Famagusta region, is at 1.8%, a stark contrast to its 24.8% level in the previous year.
While some smaller dams have indeed seen marginal improvements, such as Kalopanagiotis Dam rising to 84.8% and Pomos Dam reaching 37.6%, these isolated successes do little to offset the widespread depletion observed elsewhere. The aggregate storage across all Cypriot dams, with a combined capacity of 290 million cubic metres, now stands at only 29.6 million cubic metres, representing a mere 10.2% fullness. This is a significant downturn from the 26.6% fullness that was recorded at this time last year. The Southern Conveyor system, which links several major dams including Kouris, Kalavasos, and Lefkara, is also operating at a severely reduced capacity of 10.2%, compared to 25.7% a year ago. The Paphos, Chrysochous, and Nicosia regions are also grappling with similarly depleted reserves.
The current figures highlight the profound impact of the prolonged drought conditions that preceded the recent rainfall. The limited inflow clearly demonstrates that the island's water infrastructure is still operating under severe strain. Without a sustained and substantial increase in rainfall and subsequent dam replenishment, the prospect of a severe water shortage continues to loom large over Cyprus. This could potentially impact agricultural output, tourism, and the daily lives of its residents. The recent precipitation, while appreciated, has underscored the urgency of developing long-term water management strategies and the critical need for more comprehensive solutions to ensure the island's water resilience.