Newsroom
With Cyprus facing a second consecutive year of severe drought, authorities are implementing a new strategy to secure water supply while urging the public to cut waste.
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou announced that desalination plants will now operate continuously, regardless of weather conditions, to reduce pressure on the island’s dwindling reservoirs. Previously, desalination was used as needed, but with dam capacity at just 26%, the government is shifting to a more proactive approach.
“This will be a difficult summer,” Panayiotou warned, adding that Cyprus remains heavily dependent on rainfall. However, a long-term plan with 28 government-backed initiatives aims to reduce this reliance and improve water management.
Water supply for households remains a priority, but irrigation cuts, already in place since last year, will continue. Deputy Director of the Water Development Department, Yiorgos Kazantzis, emphasized that farmers will receive significantly less water than before, with priority given to professional farmers and permanent plantations.
Authorities are also exploring additional water sources, including restoring inactive boreholes and allowing private desalination units for hotels and farms. Meanwhile, repairs to the damaged Paphos desalination plant are expected to be completed by August, with a new facility in Kissonerga set for construction later this year.
Officials are calling on citizens to use water responsibly. “The state is doing its utmost, but cooperation from local authorities and the public is essential,” Panayiotou stressed. “Water is a precious resource—we must stop wasting it.”
*With information from CNA
