Filenews 7 April 2024 - by Angelos Nicolaou
New desalination plant at Limassol Monastery, costing €80 million is in the works through the National Investment Plan of Water Projects for water sufficiency and utilization of reclaimed water.
The National Water Works Investment Plan lists in order of priority the water projects of the Water Development Department and other sewerage bodies, with a total budget of €1.17 billion. The Plan includes 93 water projects. The first priority projects are under construction and are numbered in 33 water infrastructure projects for water supply, sewerage (in compliance with our commitments with the European Wastewater Directive), reclaimed water and irrigation, with an estimated value of €721.8 million with a completion horizon of 2024-2029.
Under evaluation are another 60 projects with an estimated value of €445.5 million, with a horizon of commencement and completion in 2025 and 2030 respectively. This includes projects to enhance the security of water supply to urban areas and communities throughout Cyprus.
The National Investment Plan for Water Works is drawn up for the first time, following a relevant proposal prepared by the Water Development Department (WDD), and according to a decision of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment undertakes the coordination and monitoring of its implementation.
The Investment Plan includes water projects of both the Water Development Department and other water supply and sewerage providers. It has an implementation horizon until 2030 and is divided into 1st and 2nd priority projects. Priority 1 projects are defined as all major water projects in progress, which are included in the budgets of the implementing bodies, as well as projects that have secured sufficient funding for their implementation. 2nd priority projects are defined as water projects, which, while falling under the government's general water policy, are still at the planning stage and not all the necessary approvals have been secured to promote their implementation.
The 1st priority projects that are directly included in the Investment Plan include those under construction for which there are commitments either contractual or budgetary. It also includes projects that will be financed by European Funds/Tools (EU Cohesion Policy Funds, Recovery and Resilience Facility, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), and all projects that remain for compliance with Directive 91/271/EEC.
The 2nd priority projects that may be included in the Investment Plan include those concerning the improvement or expansion of existing infrastructure, and also include projects whose degree of maturity is considered insufficient for their immediate implementation.
According to the standard water policy, the coverage of drinking water supply needs must reach 100%. Therefore, all 33 ongoing projects meet this need.
The Vasilikos – Nicosia water project with a total cost of €72 million is under construction, which is expected to be completed in 2029 and has to do with enhancing the security of water supply in urban Nicosia and covering the needs of communities in the western district of Nicosia. The water project "Kokkinokremmos" is also under construction to cover the needs of free Famagusta and meet the needs of communities of Kokkinochoria at a cost of €29 million.
The first phase of the project for the replacement of the Choirokoitia-Famagusta pipeline costing €14 million is at the design / tender stage. with the aim of enhancing the security of water supply in Larnaka and Famagusta and limiting water losses due to the age of the pipeline.
The €7 million project to upgrade water treatment facilities (refineries) is under construction.to ensure the quality of water intended for human consumption in accordance with EU Directive 2020/2184, which is expected to be completed in two years.
The installation of an Integrated Monitoring and Control System of the Water Development Department's network is in progress, costing €7 million. with the aim of improving the effective management of water resources and the operational capacity of the organisation (WDD).
The installation of a connected network of Photovoltaic Energy Systems in Water Treatment and Pumping Stations at a cost of €2 million is at the design / tender stage. for the application of RES for cost and energy saving in the process of water production and distribution. Another WDD project that is currently under study is the new Tersefanou Pumping Station costing €3 million to enhance the security of water supply in Nicosia.
In order to improve water infrastructure, smart water meters will be procured and installed in the water supply network of the Nicosia Water Board at a cost of €4.5 million, and the Municipality of Pafos at a cost of €9.5 million.
The Water Board of Limassol for the reduction of losses and improvement of water supply infrastructure plans to replace the water supply network in areas where water leaks and unbilled water are at high levels with a budget of €7.5 million.
The installation of a water pipeline to the water supply network of Aradippou Municipality by the Larnaka Water Board at a cost of €3.75 million is under study.
The procedures for the creation of the Limassol Smart Water Network have been initiated by the Water Board of Limassol, with a grant of €13 million. from the EU, through the Recovery and Resilience Fund.
In order to improve the effective management of water resources and the operational capacity of the Larnaka Water Board a program with a total cost of €4 million is in progress. Adoption of Smart Technologies to improve the efficiency of Larnaca Water Board concerning the installation and operation of a smart meter system, by replacing 25,000 domestic water meters with new smart water meters.
Construction of three new generation water tanks of Glass Lined Steel (GLS) type to enhance the security of water supply in Nicosia is in progress by the Nicosia Water Board at a cost of €3.05 million.
The construction of a new water reservoir in Klavdia, with a capacity of 10,000 m3 and costing €3 million, has begun. to enhance Larnaka's water supply security and is expected to be completed in 2026.
First priority 10 sewerage projects
All sewerage projects that have not yet been constructed under the European Directive 91/271/EEC on urban wastewater treatment, for the non-compliance of which has been the subject of a conviction of the Court of Justice of the European Union against the Republic of Cyprus, are included in the Investment Plan as 1st priority projects.
These projects are considered to be particularly important for the protection of the environment and public health and any delay in their implementation will entail large financial penalties, with consequently negative effects on fiscal data.
The second phase of the Sewerage System of the Solea Complex costing €16 million, the second phase of the Sewerage System of the Kokkinochoria Complex costing €33 million, the construction of a sewage collection network in the settlements of Pyrgos and Parekklisia costing €18 million, is in progress.
Phase C of the Larnaka Sewerage System with a total cost of €93 million. concerns the construction of urban wastewater collection networks and pumping stations in the settlements of Dromolaxia-Meneou, Kiti and Pervolia and the transfer of urban wastewater to the existing wastewater treatment plant in Larnaka.
In 2025, work is expected to begin on the sewerage system of Polis Chrysochous with an estimated cost of €23.5 million.
The implementation of the sewerage project of the five western settlements (Municipality of Ypsonas and Communities of Kolossi, Erimi, Trachoni, Episkopi), according to the information of the Water Development Department, is planned for the period ending in 2029, the total cost of these works is around €122 million.
The sewerage system of the southeastern settlements of Nicosia (Dali, Pera Chorio – Nisou, Lympia and Potamia) with a total cost of €40 million. is under evaluation.
The Aradippou sewerage system (Aradippou, Livadia, Pyla and Oroklini) costing €118 million, the Tersefanou sewerage network costing €10.5 million, and the construction of a new pumping station next to the New Port of Limassol to serve the new areas that will be connected to the system of the Sewerage Board of Limassol – Amathus costing €7 million.
Enhancing the security of water supply in all provinces
Among the 2nd priority projects that can be included in the Water Works Investment Plan, those that enhance the water supply security of the provinces, but also meet the needs of communities, stand out. The first priority, due to the fact that the drought began to grind its teeth and if no measures are taken, there is a serious risk that the nightmare of cuts will return, is the new desalination plant planned in Moni to meet the needs of communities in Limassol. It is a project estimated to cost around €80 million. It will be a public-private partnership covering 100% of the total capital expenditure by the contractor and gradual repayment from the WDD budget during the operation phase of the project. The degree of maturity of the project is considered insufficient for its immediate implementation, but the data may vary.
In order to enhance the security of water supply in the districts of Larnaka, Famagusta and Nicosia, the construction of a new refinery in Choirokoitia is planned with an estimated expenditure of €10 million.
In order to enhance the security of water supply and meet the needs of communities in the district of Polis Chrysochous and ensure the quality of water intended for human consumption, the construction of a water refinery at the Evretos dam is evaluated at a cost of €1.5 million. A water refinery is also being evaluated at the Achna dam with an expenditure of €4 million. with the aim of enhancing water supply security and meeting the needs of free Famagusta and ensuring the quality of water intended for human consumption.
The construction of a water refinery at the Solea dam with an expenditure of €2 million to cover the community's drinking water needs is also under evaluation.
In order to enhance the security of water supply in the districts of Larnaka and Famagusta and reduce water losses due to the age of the pipeline, it is planned to replace the Choirokoitia – Famagusta pipeline (phase B) with an expenditure of €15 million. the three-year period (2026-2028) and phase C with €20 million. the three-year period (2028 -2030).
Also, in order to enhance the security of water supply in Nicosia and reduce water losses due to the ageing pipeline, it is planned to replace the Stavrovouni – Nicosia pipeline at a cost of €14 million. and implementation projects for the period 2028 – 2030.
A new pumping station in Dipotamos with an expenditure of €2 million is being evaluated with the aim of improving water infrastructure.
Regarding the water supply of the peri-urban communities of Limassol (northern and eastern villages, Amathus and Mouttayiaka area) from a central water supply system (desalination and refinery) with the aim of enhancing the water supply security of the communities of the Limassol district, a timetable for the implementation of the period 2025 – 2027 is being evaluated with an expenditure of €8 million.
In order to enhance the security of water supply in the area of Pissouri, there is provision for service by the central water supply system of Pafos (desalination and refinery).
Projects to improve the water supply of communities, including the replacement of obsolete networks, are also under evaluation with an expenditure of €12 million for the Nicosia district, €17 million for the Limassol district, €6 million for the Larnaka district, €7 million for Famagusta and €10 million for the Paphos district.
With an expenditure of €9 million, the replacement of obsolete pipelines, network upgrade and installation of smart meters and telemetry system and construction of 48-hour storage tanks in the Municipality of Sotira are evaluated.
Expenditure €6 million It is planned for the replacement of obsolete pipelines, network upgrade and installation of smart meters and telemetry system in the Municipality of Paralimni.
Furthermore, the Department of Medical and Public Health Services – Health Service, in order to ensure transparency in informing citizens about the quality of water intended for human consumption, is working on the creation of an electronic platform for recording, processing and publishing the results of quality control of water intended for human consumption at a cost of €1 million.
New sewerage systems under assessment
Sewerage projects that are not considered as mature but are likely to be included in the Investment Plan are included in the 2nd priority projects. In order to address the sewerage problems in the community of Pissouri, a sewerage network for sewage collection and a treatment plant with a total cost of €22 million is planned.
A project of the Sewerage Board of Limassol – Amathus with an expenditure of €6 million is under evaluation, the construction of a new pumping station and the main pipeline of Aktaia Odos to serve the new flows from existing areas of the Sewerage Board of Limassol – Amathus.
The Sala also undertakes, at an expense of €12 million, the expansion and renovation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Moni, as well as the renovation / repair of the main pipeline from Posidonia Hotel to Moni SNE at an expense of €15 million.
Under evaluation and large water infrastructure projects for the use of recycled water. In East Nicosia (N. Gonia) phase B with an expenditure of €8.5 million, in Ayia Napa – Paralimni with an expenditure of €20 million, while €20 million is estimated the expenditure for Limassol Phase B.
Preparing a plan for the first time
The expected benefits targeted by the approval of the proposed Investment Plan are referred to by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, who submitted the relevant proposal before the Council of Ministers and was approved on 3/4/2024.
These are:
(a) establishing a long-term government water policy and strengthening water and wastewater management governance;
(b) promotion of the government's development plan and implementation of the objectives of the Governance Programme in the pillars "Planet / Clean Environment" and "Support and Development of the Primary Sector", and
(c) satisfaction of the Enabling Condition of the "THALEIA 2021-2027" Programme.
According to the Minister, this is a plan that is being prepared for the first time, following a relevant proposal prepared by the Water Development Department. The National Investment Plan achieves:
• Proper prioritization of projects on the basis of documented needs
• Better allocation of water resources that can be used in a context of rational financial management
• Pancyprian distribution of needs coverage
• Better implementation of the sewerage system construction program.
