Cyprus is significantly augmenting its desalination capabilities in a determined effort to mitigate a severe and escalating water shortage that has left the island's reservoirs at critically low levels. Despite recent, albeit insufficient, rainfall, dam capacity remains at a precarious 11%, a stark contrast to the 26% recorded at the same juncture last year, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The government's proactive approach involves not only expanding its reliance on advanced water purification technology but also implementing stringent measures to curtail consumption from alternative sources, notably golf courses in the Paphos district.
The island's water reserves are facing an "ongoing water shortage" and what Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou has described as a "tragic situation." The limited inflows from recent precipitation, amounting to a mere 400,000 cubic metres of water collected across all dams in the past 24 hours, with an additional million cubic metres anticipated over the next three days, have proven woefully inadequate to replenish the depleted reservoirs. This shortfall highlights a systemic vulnerability to erratic rainfall patterns, exacerbated by a comparative lack of precipitation when contrasted with neighbouring regions; Cyprus received a meagre 19 millimetres of rain recently, a fraction of the 150 millimetres recorded in Attica, Greece. Experts suggest that a substantial, sustained downpour, potentially exceeding 100 millimetres within a two-day period, would be necessary for any meaningful recovery of the water table.
In response, the Water Development Department is accelerating the deployment of desalination facilities. Two new mobile desalination units are slated for installation in February and March, one near the Garyllis river in Limassol and another adjacent to the city's port. These additions will elevate the total number of operational desalination units to nine, collectively capable of producing 282,000 cubic metres of water daily, a volume 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, and a new permanent unit planned for Mazotos is expected to yield a further 20,000 cubic metres daily. These units are strategically positioned across the island, with existing facilities in Kissonerga, Moni, Episkopi, Ayia Napa, Vasiliko, Larnaca, and Dhekelia, and planned units in Episkopi, Ayia Napa, Vasiliko, and Mazotos.
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 and adapt water consumption practices across various sectors, acknowledging that while snowfall can contribute to river flow, it is not a panacea for the deepening crisis. Marios Hadjicostis, Chief Technical Engineer at the Water Development Department, has indicated that the island requires an additional 45 million cubic metres of water to avert a more severe crisis. The disparity in rainfall, with heavier precipitation observed in the Troodos mountains (20-25 millimetres) compared to the coastal areas of Paphos (3-5 millimetres), further complicates water management strategies. The increased reliance on desalination, while a crucial short-term solution, underscores the long-term challenge of securing water resources in an increasingly arid climate.