Newsroom
Cyprus is grappling with a severe water shortage as the ongoing drought pushes the country's dam capacity to worrying levels. According to Gianna Economidou, Senior Executive Engineer at the Water Development Department, the dams are currently at just 27% capacity, down from 49% at this time last year, with levels continuing to drop due to a lack of rainfall.
Economidou told Sports FM and Diaspora News that if dry conditions persist, dam occupancy could fall further to 22-25% by the end of autumn. Currently, Cyprus' dams hold 78 million cubic meters of water, and the hydrological year, which began on October 1, has seen little improvement.
To address the growing crisis, the Department of Water Development is drafting an action plan at the direction of the Minister of Agriculture. The plan, which will be submitted to the Council of Ministers, includes short, medium, and long-term measures aimed at mitigating water shortages that could intensify by 2025 and 2026 if rainfall remains scarce. Economidou explained that the focus will be on conventional water sources, such as desalination, and reclaimed water, particularly for agriculture. The plan also includes improving water supply and irrigation infrastructure to reduce losses and better manage the island's limited resources.
For the past 18 months, Cyprus' five desalination plants have been operating at maximum capacity, supplying 75% of the country’s water needs. However, the remaining demand is met by dams and boreholes. Economidou noted that plans are in place for additional desalination plants, both mobile and permanent, to bolster supply.
Adding to the challenges, the Meteorological Department's senior officer, Michalis Mouskos, confirmed that no significant rainfall is expected before October 23. He warned that while rain may arrive in the last days of the month, the situation remains dire. Mouskos compared current conditions to the drought years of 2005-2007, which led to severe water rationing.
Looking ahead, Mouskos emphasized that climate change is likely to worsen Cyprus' water crisis. The Eastern Mediterranean region is expected to experience longer summers and more frequent droughts in the next 20-30 years. He highlighted the extreme heatwaves seen in 2023, including a 17-day stretch in July with temperatures exceeding 40°C, as an alarming sign of what may lie ahead.
