Filenews 9 February 2022
Due to the increased water inflows into the dams, it is planned to reduce the production of desalination plants for 2022, said Panagiota Hadjigeorgiou, Director of the Water Development Department (WDD).
When asked by the CNA about the needs served by the dam water, Mrs. Hadjigeorgiou explained that the large dams are a source of water for the Government Water Projects (KYE), which are managed by the WDD. The source of water for these projects is also desalination, as well as recycled water produced by the sewerage systems of urban areas, he added.
Mrs. Hadjigeorgiou noted that the Kye serves for water supply purposes (drinking water) about 80% of the needs nationwide, both for domestic use and for tourism, industry and livestock farming. At the same time, these projects serve about 40% of the agricultural irrigation needs.
The quantity channelled by the Kye for water supply amounts to 97 million cubic metres of water per year and comes from the dams (after the necessary refining) as well as from desalinations, said the Director of the WDD.
"As far as irrigation is concerned, water is provided from the dams in the areas of the KYE, depending on the quantities available from time to time. The average annual supply of untreated irrigation water from the dams is around 60 million cubic metres, which, however always depends on the occupancy rate of the dams and the quantity available for irrigation", said Ms. Hadjigeorgiou.
Asked about the degree of water use from desalination in the current period, Mrs. Hadjigeorgiou explained that water from desalination is an integral part of the water balance in Cyprus and ensures the continuous and unhindered supply of water for water supply, in order to fully serve the needs of drinking water.
"Despite the fact that this year we have had, to date, satisfactory inflows into the dams compared to last year's -bleak- year, desalination units are still used to the extent necessary to cover the local water supply needs," said the Director of the WDD, adding that desalination plants can be placed either on standby or in partial or full operation, in order to supplement the local needs from the production of drinking water from the refineries.
"Given the increased inflows into the dams, it is planned to reduce the production of desalination plants for 2022, to the extent that local coverage of water supply needs and security of supply will be ensured, especially during the summer months when demand appears to be significantly increased," Ms Hadjigeorgiou said.
In 2021, which was a lawless year, he said, 48.3 million cubic metres of desalinated water were produced, with a total cost of €53.6m. Depending on how this year ends up in terms of rainfall and on the basis of the decisions of the Advisory Committee for Water Management and the Council of Ministers on the distribution of water by region and by use, significant savings are expected to be achieved.
When asked about the cost of desalination in the state at this time, given the increased rainfall, the Director of the WDD replied that the desalination plants operate through long-term Contracts in which the cost per cubic meter of the purchase of desalinated water supplied to the State is determined.
"However, in times of increased rainfall, the operation of desalination plants decreases and significant savings are achieved", noted Mrs. Hadjigeorgiou. However, the overall impact on the unit cost of drinking water will be seen when the hydrological year is over and we will have a complete picture of the water balance, he concluded.
CNA
