Filenews 15 October 2024 - by Angelos Nicolaou
With four new mobile desalination plants, which are in the final stage of planning, the water supply needs in the districts of Limassol and Pafos will be addressed in the new summer season. Furthermore, it is planned to create two permanent units in Limassol and Larnaka, as well as expand existing units so that the nightmare of cuts that returned after the drought of recent years can be addressed.
The plan of the Water Development Department was presented during a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Agriculture by the deputy director of the Department, George Kazantzis. The planning, he said, includes medium and long-term actions, which have to do with increasing water production through desalination, as well as utilizing reclaimed water. Furthermore, he referred to plans to reduce water demand by addressing losses and improving water infrastructure.
Mr. Kazantzis said that the planning for next year is based on the worst-case scenario, where the inflow of water into the dams until the summer is the same as in the hydrological year that passed. He explained that the five existing desalination plants do not cover the water needs and the action plan is to cover these without taking into account rainfall.
A cry of anguish was heard in the Commission by the representatives of the District Local Government Organizations (EDA). The acting general manager of the Limassol EDA, Socrates Metaxas, warned that under the worst-case scenario and provided that before the summer the three mobile units will be installed, there will be a shortage of drinking water. "If it doesn't rain we will be facing a crisis," he said.
The president of the Pafos EDA, Charalambos Pittokopitis, in turn, sent a distress signal, noting that "the new desalination plant in the Pafos district should have taken place yesterday and not today". He also expressed anxiety about the planning of a dam in Episkopi Pafos.
On behalf of the Larnaca EDA, it was reported that the installation of a mobile desalination plant in Larnaca was examined, without taking a decision.
The Famagusta EDA reported that the effort focuses on reducing water losses from the network. On behalf of the WDD, it was reported that no area has been found for the siting of a mobile desalination plant in the Famagusta district.
