Filenews 15 March 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Cyprus is facing one of the most serious water crises in its history. According to the water supply and irrigation scenarios being worked out by the Water Development Department, at the end of 2025 the island's dams are expected to be emptied, leaving the country facing serious shortages. The situation becomes even more worrying as demand for water increases, while rainfall remains insufficient and climate change exacerbates the already tense situation.
To understand the tragedy of the situation, the dams of the Unified Southern Pipeline Plan (ESNA) from 46 million cubic meters of water today, at the end of 2025 are estimated to amount to 8 million. On the contrary, the water reserves in the dams of Pafos are estimated to amount to only 1.7 million from the 18 million today.
All this at a time when existing desalination plants do not cover the large water needs, although they operate at their maximum capacity.
The Water Development Department is working feverishly to manage the available water sources and ensure the satisfaction of basic water supply and irrigation needs. Despite intensive efforts, the Department does not hide its concern for the future development of the situation, as water resources are exhausted and solutions are limited.
Indicative of the seriousness of the situation is the fact that in 2025, the quantities of water available for irrigation are set to be reduced by 50%.
The reduction in the amount of water for irrigation will mainly affect farmers and agricultural production on the island, with the consequences being particularly pronounced in sectors such as the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and other products that require large amounts of water to grow. This decision is expected to cause disruption to the agricultural sector, which has to adapt to new circumstances, with the cost of crops rising and production falling.
According to the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 3/1/2025, through the Southern Pipeline Unified Plan (ESNA), 90 million will be granted in 2025 to Member States for water supply and 21.7 million for irrigation.
However, due to reduced water inflows to ESNA dams, from 16.7 million m² to 9.2 cm. for the year, the reduced production of desalinated water from ESNA desalination plants by 5% compared to last year's production, due to the urgent need for maintenance of their equipment, and the increased water needs by 5% compared to last year's consumption due to the increased number of tourists, the increased demand from households, and the inclusion of new areas in the water supply networks of the District Local Government Organizations, the WDD has adjusted the water allocation scenario within the framework of ESNA. Under the revised scenario, water stocks in dams at the end of 2025 are estimated at 8.3 million cubic meters compared to 19.2 million cubic meters which was the estimated final stored quantity, according to the initial approved scenario.
According to the new assumptions, it appears that the water reserves in the ESNA dams are able to marginally cover the water needs until the end of 2025, provided that the scenario is strictly adhered to and the demand for irrigation and water supply is contained in the quantities that have been calculated.
The WDD notes that any variations in the scenario assumptions may lead to better or worse outcomes. It is also noted that the scenario does not take into account the operation of any mobile desalination plants, a process which the Water Development Department is promoting in parallel, in order to be able to install mobile units in the Limassol area (Garyllis and Port) and Moni as soon as possible.
The biggest problem that is expected to arise during the year is related to the coverage of daily demand for water supply in the Limassol district. During this period, demand is expected to be increased, while at the same time, stocks at ESNA dams will be at lower levels and possibly with increased sludge content, which may affect the capacity of the Limassol refinery.
Specifically, in case the water supply needs during the summer and autumn months increase by 5% compared to last year's consumption, it is expected that the demand from the Limassol refinery will amount to 50,000 cubic meters of water per day. Although the capacity of the Limassol refinery amounts to 80,000 cubic meters per day, any increased sludge content in the water from the Kouris dam will affect the performance of the aforementioned refinery.
The Department of Agriculture is working on a compensation plan
In 2025, reduced quantities of water will be allocated to irrigation compared to 2024, due to insufficient reserves in the dams. Over time, the Water Development Department, by drawing up irrigation priorities, has recognized the long-standing policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment for the protection of permanent / tree crops.
Therefore, taking into account the total needs/consumption of irrigation water, water concession rates per plantation category have been determined based on previous years' consumptions.
It is noted that in the Limassol area, the coverage rate is increased, due to the use of reclaimed water. It is also noted that larger quantities of reclaimed water are utilized for irrigation on a nationwide basis, through autonomous distribution systems by urban and rural Sewerage Boards, which, however, are not included in the annual water allocation scenarios from government water projects.
It is also noted that, in order to support professional farmers who will be affected by the reduced quantities of water in 2025, the Department of Agriculture is working on a compensation plan for loss of income.
Based on the water allocation scenario in the context of the Pafos major irrigation project, water reserves in the dams at the end of 2025 would amount to 11.2 million. k.m.
However, due to the reduced year-on-year inflow to the Pafos dams from 4.7 million to 2.7 million. m.m., due to lower than expected rainfall in the region, zero desalinated water production, due to the destruction of the desalination plant in Kouklia, and the increase in losses by 1.4 million cubic meters, due to the loss of the entire volume of water from the Mavrokolymbos dam, water reserves at the dams at the end of 2025 are estimated to be just 1.7 million. k.m.
Regarding the allocation of water for irrigation, no change is proposed in relation to the quantities provided for in the decision of the Council of Ministers with date. 3/1/2025 and which are 50% lower compared to last year's consumption quantities.
