Filenews 12 November 2024 - by Despina Psillou
A nightmare in the dams of Cyprus, since not even the orange warning and the floods of the weekend managed to improve their dramatic picture. As "F" is informed, during the torrential rains not only there was no inflow to the dams, but on the contrary there was a decrease in their reserves, which in the last three days exceeded 200,000 cubic meters of water. Water needs were at least twice the inflow.
According to the same information, the rains over the weekend were only beneficial to quench the thirst of the land and did not contribute at all to the dams. This is because they occurred mainly in coastal areas. What is needed, as we have been pointed out, for rainfall to contribute, is for rainfall to occur in the mountains, to last and to have sufficient quantities of water to move streams and rivers.
The good hydrological months, however, which are December, January and February, are ahead of us and so all hope has not been lost. However, today the situation is particularly difficult for crops and farmers, since even the quantities of water resulting from desalination do not seem to cover irrigation needs.
According to data from the Water Development Department, after last October's complete drought, the level of stored water has plummeted well below half, to levels recorded again many years ago.
With a total capacity of 290 million cubic metres, they currently have only 73.6 million cubic metres. m.m. of water. The dams are only at 25.3% of their occupancy, compared to 47.1% last year, meaning they had an additional 63 391 million cubic meters of water.
The Vyzakia dam is almost empty, at only 4.4% of its occupancy, when last year it was at 45.6%. Equally bad is the situation at the dams of Achna (9.6% from 26% last year), Kalopanayiotis (10.2% from 51% last year), Argaka (13.2% from 16.3% last year), Xyliatos (13.8% from 48.6% last year).
On the contrary, a somewhat better situation in terms of water stored prevails in the dam of Lefkara (48.1%), which, however, acts as an emergency dam. All other dams are below 32% of their capacity, with the highest percentages recorded in Kannaviou (32.4%) and Asprokremmo (30.2%).
Kouris, the largest dam in Cyprus, is also at extremely low levels, since out of the dams in Cyprus, it is also at extremely low levels. m² of water has only 26.2 million. that is, it is at 22.8% of its capacity. A year ago tit was at 42.9%.
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 24%. Last year they were at 43.8% of their capacity.
The Pafos dams (Asprokremmos, Kannaviou and Mavrokolymbos) with a capacity of 71.7 million cubic meters are at 30.2%. Last year they were at 55.2% of their capacity.
The Chrysochous dams (Evretou, Argaka, Pomos, Agia Marina) with a capacity of 26.1 million. cubic meters, they are at 23.3%. Last year it was 49%. The Nicosia dams (Vyzakia, Xyliatos and Kalopanayiotis) with a capacity of 3.4 million cubic meters, they are at 8.9%. Last year it was 47.4%.
