Newsroom
A newly drilled water well in Agia Marina Chrysochous, capable of providing tens of thousands of liters of water per hour, has sat unused for nearly three months due to a dispute between local authorities over who is responsible for its operation.
The well, completed successfully by the Geological Survey Department, could provide a reliable water supply to multiple communities, but disagreements between the Paphos Local Authority (E.O.A.) and the Water Development Department have left it sealed and idle, according to Agia Marina’s Deputy Mayor, Patroklos Evangelou.
Evangelou cited a recent two-day water shortage in his own village as an example of the urgent need for the well. Inspections have confirmed that the water is safe for human consumption, he said.
Cost for Activation Is Modest
Earlier this summer, the head of the Paphos Local Authority, Charalambos Pittokopitis, said the well could deliver up to 70 tons of water per hour and could be easily routed to community water tanks, located just 200 meters away.
The estimated cost to install a pump and connect the well to electricity, steps required to feed the water into the public supply network, is about €35,000.
The Water Development Department said in a statement that the responsibility for operating the well, including planning, construction, maintenance, and integration into the community water supply, lies solely with the local authority (E.O.A.).
