Filenews 22 January 2024 - by Despina Psilou
Sad and worrying is the picture from the dams all over Cyprus, as their level is overwhelmingly well below half of their capacity.
The poor rainfall year that preceded it, as well as the prolonged drought in the first two winter months of this season, have plummeted the total levels to 45.7%, compared to 67.2% last year.
The least amount of water is stored in the Argaka dam where occupancy is only 19.9%, compared to 43.1% a year ago. The Polemidia dam at 33.2% (from 49.8% last year) and the Mavrokolymbos dam at 39.6% (from 49.8% last year) also have a small amount of water.
On the contrary, only Kolopanagiotis (100%) is at its maximum occupancy, followed by the Arminou dam at 81.9% of its occupancy.
According to data from the Water Development Department, the total capacity of the dams is 290 million cubic meters. There are currently 133 million cubic meters of water.
Kouris, the largest dam in Cyprus, is currently half empty as of the 115 million dams in Cyprus. MS of water has only 45.1 million. MS, that is, it is at 39.3% of its capacity. A year ago it was at 62.4%. The dams of the South Pipeline (Kouris, Kalavasos, Lefkara, Dipotamos, Germasogeia, Arminou, Polemidia and Achna) with a total capacity of €189.4 million. cubic meters of water are at 41.8%. Last year they were at 63.9% of their capacity.
The Pafos dams (Asprokremmos, Kannaviou and Mavrokolymbos) with a capacity of 71.7 million. cubic meters are at 54.8%. Last year they were at 75.6% of their capacity. The Chrysochous dams (Evretou, Argaka, Pomos, Agia Marina) with a capacity of 26.1 million. cubic meters, they are at 48.9%. Last year it was 66.8%. The Nicosia dams (Vyzakia, Xyliatos and Kalopanayiotis), with a capacity of 3.4 million. cubic meters, they are at 49.4%. Last year it was 72.6%.
The largest inflow in this year's hydrological year has so far been January (which is usually by far the rainiest month) with 3.66 million and December with 2.34 million. k.m.
However, the situation is also negatively affected by last year's hydrological year, the total inflow of which amounted to 48.7 million. m.m. of water.
