Newsroom
A new mobile desalination unit began pumping out drinking water Monday in Potima, offering a much-needed boost to the drought-hit Paphos district.
The temporary facility will initially produce 2,000 cubic meters of water per day and is expected to ramp up to over 10,000 cubic meters daily in the coming weeks. The water is already flowing to the Akamas municipality’s Pegeia and Kissonerga districts, which have faced severe shortages over the past two years.
“This project came online right on schedule, and that’s a big win for Paphos,” said Charalambos Pittokopitis, president of the Paphos Water Board. He credited the Water Development Department, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the contractor for fast-tracking the unit, adding that the supply boost means no cuts to consumers.
Two more mobile desalination units are due to be installed at the same site, one in September and another in October, alongside the large Kouklia plant. Together, officials say, they will end the city and district’s drinking water shortages.
Still, the water crisis isn’t over for everyone. Pittokopitis confirmed reports that some farmers have been stealing drinking water for irrigation, saying the matter is under investigation and could lead to police action. Irrigation supplies remain extremely limited, and authorities are urging both farmers and residents to use water sparingly.
District Engineer Haris Kasioulis said inflows into local dams are “negligible,” making this one of the toughest years for water management in recent memory. On the brighter side, repairs to the Mavrokolypos dam are on track for completion in September, just in time for the winter rains.
