The Board of Directors of the Larnaca District Local Government Organisation decided at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday to implement measures aimed at rationalising water use and conserving supplies amid the difficult water situation in Cyprus. The measures seek to reduce water demand in the city and district of Larnaca by 10 per cent in order to avoid water cuts.
In a statement, the organisation said it has already significantly reduced water losses through “organised and systematic efforts”, compared with the condition of the water supply networks it inherited when it began operations on 1 July 2024.
It said the measures aim to curb demand so that the water needs of the city and district can be met from available reserves, particularly during the summer months when demand increases.
Problematic networks
The measures include intensified repair works and the immediate fixing of both visible and hidden leaks, through the reinforcement of maintenance crews and the use of overtime.
They also provide for the replacement of old domestic connections to reduce losses in problematic networks, particularly in water supply areas that came under the organisation’s responsibility after 1 July 2024 and record high levels of water loss.
Water supply will be cut to green spaces, traffic islands and private plots where water is used for irrigation.
Where feasible, boreholes will be incorporated into the water balance.
The organisation also said water-saving nozzles will be provided to consumers, in cooperation with the Water Development Department, for installation on taps, with the potential to reduce consumption by up to 40 per cent.
On-site checks
Inspections to enforce restrictions on the use of hoses will be stepped up in line with the Water Conservation Law. Authorised teams will carry out on-site checks across the city and district, focusing on the use of hoses for cleaning pavements, roads, verandas, railings and motor vehicles.
Public information campaigns on water conservation and rational use, including proper irrigation practices, will also be intensified. Similar awareness initiatives will be carried out in schools across the city and district.
An information leaflet will be sent to all consumers, reminding them of the requirement to maintain a water storage tank with a minimum capacity of 800 litres and operational pumping systems in apartment buildings.
The organisation called on the public to cooperate with the measures, saying this was necessary to avoid future water cuts.