The National Water Works Investment Plan with an estimated cost of 1.2 billion euro over the next decade, was presented by the Agriculture Ministry as the backbone of the national water security strategy, with the island currently going through the worst drought in its modern history, bringing supply cuts on the horizon, as most dams are drying out fast.
Addressing the National Water Association's 8th Annual Conference, held in Limassol, the ministry's Director General Andreas Gregoriou said the plan included all major household supply, irrigation, desalination and sewerage works.
A total of 93 projects are in place, with a number of them already ongoing, with an implementation period that launched in 2024 and is expected to run through a decade until everything is completed.
'The approach here is to gradually mature, integrate and carry out works at each phase, with the aim of strengthening the country's water security, shielding against shortages, as well as complying with European regulations, including urban waste processing,' Gregoriou stressed.
Desalination remains the fundamental pillar of water security supply, with five major units currently producing over 235 thousand cubic metres of water on a daily basis, Gregoriou said, adding however that as demand has substantially increased, a national effort is now under way to raise production.
A mobile unit is operating at Moni, producing 15 thousand cubic metres a day, while three are under construction, in Kissonerga, expected to produce 12 thousand cubic metres of water, the Garyllis river, expected to produce 10 thousand and the Limassol port, estimated at operation, to produce 12 thousand cubic metres.
They are expected to be operational early next year and will increase capacity by over 47 thousand cubic metres daily. 2026 will also see, as Gregoriou noted, a further enrichment of desalinated quantities through the addition of three units at Episkopi, Vasiliko and Ayia Napa, offering up 30 thousand cubic metres.
The six units in question will provide more than 77 thousand cubic metres.
'When planning and construction (2030) of the permanent desalination unit in eastern Limassol as well as the replacement of the Dhekeleia unit are concluded, Cyprus will be able to cover total water demand exclusively through desalination, releasing valuable dam water resources for farming and cultivations.'
Water from waste management
This forms the second fundamental pillar of water security. Currently, Cyprus is utilising around 90% of the total quantity produced by waste processing stations, way ahead at European level. This reclaimed wasterwater covers around 37% of irrigation needs, contributing to reducing over-extraction, enriching aquifers and securing system stability even during extreme drought periods.
Major reclaimed water projects are currently ongoing in the Anthoupoli area of western Nicosia, Vathia Gonia in the eastern region of the capital, Tersefanou in Larnaca, Polemidia, Moni and Ayia Napa-Paralimni.
'The goal is to integrate more irrigation areas, now supplied by dams, into the reclaimed water system', Gregoriou concluded, promising even more water project funding through the EU recovery fund.
SOURCE-CNA