Cyprus' water crisis deepens as dams run half empty

This winter’s performance, at least when it comes to water flowing into Cyprus’ dams, has created what officials describe as an explosive situation. The full impact won’t be felt just yet. It will show itself in the coming months, when water demand spikes for household use and the heat sets in.

Images of dams that have quite literally run dry have wiped out any lingering hope that winter rains would meaningfully boost reserves for 2026. Last year, the country just barely scraped by. This year, officials fear it will be even tougher.

As things stand, the burden of meeting water needs will fall squarely on desalination plants. They must be operating at full capacity by early summer if supply shortages are to be avoided. Even so, authorities expect 2026 to be a difficult year and say that beyond emergency measures, consumers will have to embrace smarter, more disciplined water use.

Three pillars to avert a crisis

The Agriculture Ministry, relevant government departments, and local district authorities have roughly three months to prepare before peak summer demand hits.

Data show that out of nearly 100 dams across Cyprus, inflows have dropped so sharply that reserves are now about half of what they were in 2025.

“The situation is tragic,” Agriculture Ministry Director General Andreas Gregoriou told Kathimerini.

In response, the ministry and the Water Development Department are working on three main pillars to secure water supply.

Pillar One: Desalination

The backbone of this year’s strategy is desalination.

By summer, officials aim to have 12 desalination units in operation. Nine are already running:

Five permanent plants are located in Dhekelia, Larnaca Airport, Vasilikos, Episkopi, and Kouklia in Paphos, the latter recently repaired and back in production.

Four additional units with a combined daily capacity of 47,000 cubic meters. One operates in Kissonerga (12,000 cubic meters daily), one in Moni, a mobile unit donated by the United Arab Emirates and operating since last summer, and two more in Limassol, at the port and along the Garyllis River.

Even with these nine units, officials acknowledge that summer demand cannot be fully covered unless the desalination network expands further.

Three additional plants are now in the contract award phase. They are planned for Episkopi and Vasilikos, to be operated by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, and Ayia Napa. Each will produce 30,000 cubic meters of water per day and is expected to provide a safety net if worst-case scenarios materialize.

Authorities are also looking to reinforce supply through backup government boreholes.

Pillar Two: Water management

Officials stress that boosting production alone will not solve the problem if water continues to be wasted.

The Agriculture Ministry is urging district authorities and community councils, which manage drinking water distribution, to step up maintenance and reduce losses from aging networks.

Estimates suggest that between 20% and 40% of water entering supply systems is lost due to leaks.

District authorities are responsible for maintaining and repairing these networks. They purchase water from the state and sell it at a higher price to cover administrative and infrastructure costs.

To tackle losses, the Cabinet has allocated €10.5 million for urgent repair projects aimed at reducing damage in water supply systems.

Officials say water theft from central pipelines appears limited, though isolated incidents have been recorded at local network levels.

Pillar Three: Changing habits

Perhaps the most difficult pillar is cultural.

Authorities are preparing to send a clear message, possibly through a public awareness campaign, that the country is facing a serious water crisis and that changing consumption habits is no longer optional.

“There is a crisis, and everyone must help limit the consequences, especially during the summer months,” officials stress.

Rational water use may also be encouraged through pricing. The Water Development Department is conducting a study to determine whether water tariffs should be adjusted. Any potential increase will depend on the findings, which are expected by the end of 2026.

First casualty: agriculture

The alarm over water levels is already affecting farmers.

Following a decision by the Water Management Advisory Committee, irrigation allocations for 2026 will be capped at 22 million cubic meters, a 30% reduction compared to last year.

Government water projects will attempt to supplement irrigation needs, but available quantities are expected to cover only about one-third of irrigated farmland.

In short, Cyprus is entering summer with half-full dams, heavy reliance on desalination, and little margin for error. And unless spring brings unexpected relief, the real test is still ahead.