Cyprus is confronting a severe water crisis, with the inflow into its dams since October described as "tragic," leading to critically depleted reserves. The Water Development Department has reported that water consumption continues to outpace the meagre rainfall, exacerbating a situation that has seen dam levels plummet to a mere 9.2% of their total capacity. This alarming deficit underscores the island's perennial vulnerability to drought and the urgent need for more substantial and strategically located precipitation.
The figures released by the department paint a stark picture of the current predicament. By December 29th, the nation's 18 main dams held approximately 26.9 million cubic meters of water, a figure that represents a significant shortfall compared to historical averages. 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 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 13 million cubic meters.
The disparity between consumption and supply is a primary driver of the dwindling reserves. While the cumulative inflow into reservoirs during the first 29 days of December reached 1.418 million cubic meters, this was insufficient to compensate for the water being drawn for various 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 10 and 12 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. Cyprus is no stranger to drought, with periods of scarcity sometimes lasting for three consecutive years. The current low levels present a considerable challenge in meeting the island's water demand for the upcoming year, let alone building up reserves for subsequent years, which is the ultimate objective for water security. The department's aim is to secure enough water to cover at least the next year's needs, and ideally, to have provisions for the following two years. Without a significant shift in weather patterns, characterised by "multi-day, many-hour torrential rains in the right place," the outlook remains precarious, underscoring the urgent need for effective water management strategies and perhaps a re-evaluation of reliance on natural rainfall alone.