Filenews 18 December 2021 - by Despina Psilou
Not even the daily water needs were covered by the rainfall of the previous days. In fact, as can be seen from the data of the Water Development Department, the quantities in the dams decreased during the last 11 days. It was a negligible input, explained to "F", the technical engineer of the Water Development Department, Marios Hadjicostis. However, he said, the rains caused savings from the needs in the agricultural sector, as no water was used to water the open crops. Hopes, as he points out, are turning to the phenomena of the impending bad weather "Carmel", so that it becomes a start for the storage of water during the winter.
In particular, it was clarified that the measurement on 6 December 2021 for the inflow of water, gave 0.63 million. cubic meters. The measurement on December 14, gave 1,210 million. cubic metres, that is, doubled. Yesterday's measurement gave 1,421 million cubic metres, that is, increased by 211,000 units. However, despite the increase in ingress, water storage in the dams is decreasing. "There is little difference that the rains made. In fact we were receiving 50,000 cubic metres per day, when daily we need 100,000c.m. These quantities do not ensure storage. We don't even cover consumption. The influx was insignificant."
For example, he said, last Thursday we had an influx of 44,000c.m. water in the dams. "For me this quantity doesn't matter at all. To understand, desalinations give 50,000c.m. water per day. However, the rains that preceded it, even if they do not change the situation in the dams, offer significant savings from the needs of farmers. Our only benefit is that the open plantations did not have to be watered. In Thursday's example, when we had this influx of 44,000cm, we most likely saved as many thousands of water from agriculture."
As Mr. Hatzikostis mentions, this is evident from the data in Kokkinochoria, which consumed 50,000 to 60,000 c.m. water per day. However, in the previous period and due to the rainfall they did not water. "In other words, the quantities were greater than the savings than the influx." He commented on the amounts of rainfall of the previous days that "we have not yet seen the rivers run. The water was little and the earth was very thirsty."
Regarding the quantities given by desalinations, he said that these range between 150 to 190 thousand cm of water, while the units work at full house. "We covered the water supply needs from desalination in all districts, except Limassol and Paphos which take a few quantities from the dams." At the same time, he clarified that the average of our inflows over the last decade is 96 million. "We will be satisfied if in the annual report we have in the dams from 90 million. c.m and above. Today the dams' occupancy is just under 50%, the desirable thing is to reach 75%, which I consider an achievable goal.
100 days of winter make a difference
Water storage, he clarified, occurs during the winter months. From mid-December to late March, rarely in April. "In these 100 days of winter I must have an influx of 1 million c.m. of water per day and not 50,000 c.m.". "I hope that during the three days of bad weather we will catch some millions of water and of course there will be some more heavy rainfall," he said and added: "The bad weather 'Carmel', seems to be a good strong start if three to four more such phenomena follow. Of course, we still do not know the intensity and duration of the phenomena."
The dams are emptied day by day
Less than half of their capacity is the amount of water found in the dams, as yesterday's data from the Water Department report capacity of some units below 50%. Specifically, yesterday there were 138.8 million cubic meters of water in the dams, which corresponds to 47.7% of their gross tonnage. This amount decreased despite the rainfall, from the measurement conducted 11 days ago on December 6, 2021, where it stood at 47.9%. A year ago we counted 215.9 million. cubic meters of water in the dams, i.e. the occupancy was at 74.3%.
Kouris, the largest dam in Cyprus, currently has 55.5 million. cubic meters of water, that is, it is at 48.3% of its capacity. On December 6, capacity stood at 48.9%, while last year it was at 78.9%. The dams of the Southern Pipeline (Kouris, Kalavasos, Lefkara, Dipotamos, Germasogeia, Arminou, Polemidia and Achna) with a total capacity of 189.4 million cubic meters are at 44.9%. On December 6, they were also higher at 45%, while last year they were at 73.2% of their capacity.
The dams of Pafos (Evretou, Kanavios and Mavrokolymbos) with a capacity of 71.7 million cubic meters are at 56.9%. On December 6, it was at 57%, while last year it was at 79.2% of its capacity. The Chrysochous dams (Evretou, Argaka, Pomos, Agia Marina) with a capacity of 21.1 million cubic meters, they are at 46.7%. On December 6, it was at 46.9%, while last year it was at 70.9%. Lowest of all, the Nicosia dams (Vyzakia, Xyliatos and Kalopanagiotis), with a capacity of 3.4 million cubic meters, which are at 22.3%. On December 6, it was at 22.5%, while last year it was at 57.4%.
