Pafos Press 5 March 2025
The Department of Water Development has extended the deadline for submitting bids for the mobile Desalination Plant in Pegeia by two weeks, according to the Vice President of the Paphos Water Development Authority and Mayor of Akamas, Marinos Lambrou. The bids were due to expire today, Tuesday, but interested parties requested an extension so that further technical details can be provided and answers can be provided.
In statements to CNA, the vice president of the Paphos Water Authority and Mayor of Akamas, Marinos Lambrou, said that this extension means that the Desalination Unit will not be ready before November.
The time has come for us to address the problem, Mr. Lambrou continued, adding that the Akamas Municipality, in collaboration with the Paphos Water Authority, is making efforts to find more boreholes to integrate them into the drinking water supply system.
"These actions are already being taken right now, to make it clear whether the water is suitable, not only from boreholes but also from springs," he said. He added that both the Akamas Municipality and the Water Department are looking for boreholes and springs to integrate into the water supply network, in order to limit cuts.
According to Mr. Lambrou, they had a meeting as the Paphos EOA with representatives of the Water Development Department. As he stated, the refinery produces 30 thousand cubic meters of water per day and the needs are for 40 thousand cubic meters of water. Our goal, he continued, “is to address the problem that will be put before us very soon,” adding that “it is a frightening problem.” He also pointed out that we all need water, this natural good that is a matter of sustainability.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lambrou said that water supply cuts will be imposed from May in all areas supplied by the Asprokremmos refinery and will not only affect the districts of Pegeia, Kissonerga and Akoursos.
He also referred to the further difficulty that arises, given that the Municipality of Akamas is a tourist Municipality with a high number of visitors, as he said.
Meanwhile, regarding the Mavrokolympos Dam, the work of removing the silt has begun, however, the engineers will need a period of two months for the complete removal of the silt. According to Mr. Lambrou, the corrective measures do not only concern the removal of the silt, but also the entire new design that is expected to cover the needs of the next 50 years, "which is why special attention must be paid", he concluded.
