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Cyprus has sidestepped water cuts this summer thanks to a last-minute deal with the United Arab Emirates for 15 mobile desalination units. These emergency machines are expected to meet the island’s drinking water needs during the hottest months. But while the short-term risk of dry taps is off the table, a new problem is creeping in quietly: the rising cost of producing that water, and who will ultimately foot the bill.
Taps will run, but wallets may feel it
According to Kathimerini's Apostolos Tomaras, desalination, converting seawater into drinking water, is now at the heart of Cyprus’s water supply strategy. But it’s not cheap. Running these units comes with hefty energy demands, and that means higher costs. While no official changes to water tariffs have been announced yet, industry insiders warn it’s only a matter of time before those costs are passed on to consumers.
At the moment, residents in different cities are already paying very different prices for the same amount of water. A household in Larnaca pays nearly 86% more than one in Nicosia for 15 cubic meters of water, the average monthly usage. And the mobile units arriving from the UAE will only add more pressure on the system’s finances.
Energy: The silent driver of price hikes
According to a government report, the biggest cost in desalination is electricity. It takes 3.5 kilowatt-hours of energy to produce just one cubic meter of water, no small feat when multiplied by millions. In 2023 alone, producing desalinated water cost €91.5 million, up a staggering 64% from two years earlier.
Energy accounts for 80% of that cost. And with no short-term solution to store solar power for nighttime use, renewable energy isn’t yet a viable answer for running desalination plants around the clock.
What comes next?
The Water Development Department is drafting a new pricing policy to reflect the changing landscape. But there’s still uncertainty around whether all 15 mobile desalination units will be fully operational by summer. Even if 2025 squeaks by without major issues, experts warn 2026 could be far more challenging, especially if the drought continues and rainfall remains scarce.
Meanwhile, local water authorities say they haven’t been given clear guidance on pricing changes, though they expect that any cost increases from the central government will eventually reach residents through higher bills.
The bottom line
The emergency desalination plan has bought Cyprus some time, but at a cost that’s still being calculated. With energy prices high and desalination now responsible for most of the island’s drinking water, a hike in water bills seems likely. For now, the taps will keep running, but families, businesses, and farmers should brace for a potentially more expensive future.
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