Newsroom
Recent rainfall has improved irrigation conditions in Cyprus, but the Water Development Department says the additional water has not altered the country's overall supply strategy or created room for increased irrigation allocations.
Around 140,000 cubic metres of water entered dams across Cyprus during the 24 hours before August 19, with approximately 118,000 cubic metres flowing into Kouris Dam, according to Water Development Department Executive Engineer Alexios Fragkeskos.
The rainfall has been particularly useful for agriculture. Crops that normally require watering two or three times each week have needed fewer irrigation cycles, allowing farmers to save an estimated one or two waterings.
For domestic supply, however, the latest rainfall does not significantly change the country's calculations. Cyprus' urban areas require approximately 300,000 to 350,000 cubic metres of water each day, while more than 75% of drinking water demand is currently covered by desalination.
There are no water restrictions at present. The dams hold approximately 120 million cubic metres, representing about 40% of their combined capacity.
Fragkeskos said the August rainfall was unexpected, but the volume entering the reservoirs was not unprecedented. In 2019, inflows during the summer period were roughly twice the latest figure.
He said Cyprus is in a better position than it was last year, but water authorities continue to plan cautiously because rainfall and reservoir inflows have become increasingly unpredictable in recent years.
Three-year planning limits extra irrigation water
The prospect of providing additional water through the Southern Conveyor for the next potato planting season is expected to be discussed by farming organisations with the new Agriculture Minister.
According to Fragkeskos, current reserves do not appear to allow for additional irrigation quantities. The Water Development Department now evaluates supply scenarios over a three-year horizon rather than making decisions based solely on the conditions of an individual year.
Under the conservative scenarios currently being assessed, the available reserves are not considered sufficient to justify additional allocations while maintaining a comfortable safety margin.
If the issue is formally referred to the department, Fragkeskos said officials will examine what can be done within the available resources.
Recycled water supports agricultural needs
Recycled water is already an important part of Cyprus' irrigation system. More than 20 million cubic metres are used annually for crops where its use is permitted.
Limassol district provides one of the clearest examples, with agricultural irrigation there relying almost entirely on recycled water.
The volume available is expected to increase as more areas are connected to sewage networks and the amount of treated urban wastewater grows. Projects planned for the coming years will also extend recycled-water supplies to additional locations, including areas such as Anthoupolis in eastern Nicosia.
Despite the recent rainfall, the Water Development Department is urging households and businesses to continue using water carefully. Fragkeskos said conservation should be maintained as a normal part of daily life rather than becoming a priority only during periods of severe shortage.
