Filenews 22 August 2024- by Despina Psillou
The picture from the dams of Cyprus is becoming more and more dramatic. The stored water is now in some cases at an extremely low level and occupancy has plummeted to around 10% to 15%. As if the drought were not enough, the tragic situation is reinforced by other waste, as revealed in Filenews publications, since the recycled water ends up in golf courses or even in the sea, while at the same time there are large losses from leaks, which reached 600 in Larnaka in a month.
According to data from the Water Development Department, the level of stored water has plummeted well below half. With a total capacity of €290 million. cubic meters, they currently have only 98.7 million cubic meters of water. The dams are at 34% of their occupancy, compared to 57.3% last year, meaning they had an additional 67 775 million. cubic meters of water.
In the worst position is the dam of Kalopanayiotis, at only 10.5% compared to 57.6% last year. Equally bad are the data for the dams of Argaka (14.6% from 54.6% last year), Vyzakia (16.3% from 64.1% last year), Agia Marina (16.8% from 23.8% last year) and Achna (18.5% from 34.7% last year).
On the contrary, in better condition in terms of stored quantities of water is Lefkara (59.5%), which, however, acts as an emergency dam. All other dams are below 50% of their capacity, with the highest percentages recorded in Kannaviou (42.5%), Pomos (40.8%), Asprokremmo (40.1%).
Kouris, the largest dam in Cyprus, is also at an extremely dangerous level, since from the 115 million dams in Cyprus. M² of water has only 35.3 million cubic meters, that is, it is at 30.7% of its capacity. A year ago they were at 53.1%.
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 31.4%. Last year they were at 53.5% of their capacity.
The Pafos dams (Asprokremmos, Kannaviou and Mavrokolymbos) with a capacity of 71.7 million. cubic meters are at 40.2%. Last year they were at 65.9% of their capacity.
The Chrysochous dams (Evretou, Argaka, Pomos, Agia Marina) with a capacity of 26.1 million. cubic meters, they are at 37.1%. Last year it was at 59.4%.
The Nicosia dams (Vyzakia, Xyliatos and Kalopanayiotis) with a capacity of 3.4 million. cubic meters, they are at 22.6%. Last year it was 67.1%.
