In Limassol, 30 entities with licensed drainage pipes approved by competent state authorities discharge wastewater into the sea to prevent their basements from flooding. Remarkably, they are required to self-monitor for pollution, and if they find a problem, only then are fines imposed. The Department of Environment acknowledges a regulatory gap and assures that a stricter framework is being introduced.
The realization that competent state agencies are unable to trace the sources of pollution in Limassol Bay, and therefore cannot take enforcement or corrective measures, as well as the fact that the special coordination committee of the involved agencies under the Deputy Ministry of Shipping has shown no visible results after two years, led to yet another meeting of Parliament’s Environment Committee on Wednesday on the same issue.
Conflicting views
MPs expressed concern over the differing views presented by the agencies’ representatives regarding possible sources of pollution, reflecting weaknesses in the mechanism for preventing and managing marine pollution. Their stance justified the purpose of the meeting, titled “The lack of coordinated supervision and adequate monitoring by competent authorities of the marine environment in the wider Limassol area, and the risks to public health and the natural environment from possible marine pollution,” following a proposal by DISY MP for Limassol, Fotini Tsiridou.
Specifically, while the Department of Environment, the Water Development Department, and the Limassol Sewerage Board ruled out land-based projects as the main source of pollution and pointed to discharges from ships and boats, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping expressed a contrary view.
Marine pollution comes from land
The scientific advisor to the Deputy Ministry and president of the Department of Shipping and Commerce at Frederick University, Dr. Angelos Menelaou, emphasized that global statistics show 80% of marine pollution originates from land. “We cannot claim in Cyprus that we defy this statistic,” he said, “especially as human activities along our coasts continue to grow. High-rise buildings are springing up like mushrooms.”
He added that, based on an official state list, there are currently 30 entities in Limassol with state-approved drainage pipes, authorized by bodies such as the Department of Environment, that discharge drainage water into the sea to prevent basement flooding.
His statement caused frustration among several MPs regarding the Department of Environment’s practices. “We gave them permits, told them to self-monitor, to test the water they dump into the sea, and if they find, through their own tests, that there’s pollution, then they’re supposed to come tell us so we can fine them,” remarked the chairman of the Parliamentary Environment Committee and Green Party MP, Charalambos Theopemptou. “That’s the ‘brilliant’ solution we came up with for wastewater management when building high-rises. But no one is going to say, ‘I checked, there’s pollution, fine me.’”
Legal loophole
When asked for clarification, an official from the Department of Environment admitted that there is indeed a gap in the current framework regarding the drainage of water from high-rise buildings into the sea in Limassol. The Department is now seeking to address this by setting stricter limits on permits for such activities through upcoming amendments to the Law on the Control of Water Pollution.
It was also revealed that in some cases, the Department of Environment granted approval for drainage either during the construction phase or during the operation of certain coastal buildings. Otherwise, their basements would flood.
To support his point about the inadequacy of monitoring and enforcement, Dr. Menelaou cited complaints about marine pollution in Limassol over the past two years. Out of roughly 300 reported cases, authorities were unable to identify the source in 53% of them, and only in 13% of identified cases were fines imposed, none exceeding €3,000.
Dr. Menelaou stressed the need for greater financial support from the state to strengthen the work of the Marine Pollution Prevention and Response Committee under the Deputy Ministry of Shipping. Although €200,000 was requested, the Ministry of Finance approved only €100,000. He noted that the committee, which meets every two to three months, will soon announce both short- and long-term measures.
A representative of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping added that the Marine Pollution Monitoring and Coordination Group (OESA) will begin operation in February 2026 following a Cabinet decision. This body will ensure the implementation of the committee’s decisions on a daily basis.
In parallel, a dedicated digital platform will be established where all involved agencies will upload pollution-related data, enabling immediate and coordinated response actions.