Filenews 29 March 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
In 2026, significant cuts in water supply are expected in all provinces of Cyprus, which will directly affect the daily life of residents. According to estimates by the Water Development Department (TAY), the first water cuts will occur in Limassol and Famagusta in February 2026, while Paphos is expected to be affected from April 2026, followed by Nicosia and Larnaca in May 2026.
This is on the condition that the water reserves in the large dams that have worsened the water situation do not change dramatically, the continuation of the drought in 2026, the zero concession of water for irrigation and without taking into account any contribution from the mobile desalination units that are planned.
It is noted that in 2025 the districts of Limassol and Paphos are at great risk in terms of covering their daily needs for water supply during the peak period, i.e. the summer and autumn months.
In the water supply sector, there is increased demand throughout Cyprus and based on the scenarios, the areas with high water consumption are the first to be affected, while Paphos follows due to the latest events that unfolded with the desalination plant that was knocked out after a fire in December 2024.
The biggest problem that is expected to arise during the year is related to the coverage of the daily demand for water supply in the Limassol district.
The Kouris dam can serve all four districts, Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta, while the Kalavasos, Dipotamos and Lefkara dams can cover the water supply needs of the districts of Larnaca and Nicosia only. Therefore, and since the Limassol district has no alternative source from any dam other than that of Kouris, the Water Development Department intends to limit the abstraction of water from the Kouris dam to a minimum, in order to maintain more reserves for the Limassol district or for any other area of the Unified Southern Pipeline Plan (ESNA) deemed necessary.
In order to meet the water supply needs of the districts of Larnaca and Nicosia, it is planned to utilize to the maximum extent possible the amount stored in the Kalavasos, Dipotamos and Lefkara dams, in combination with the operation of the Vassiliko and Larnaca desalination plants, supplementing with the minimum possible quantities from the Kouris dam. The water supply needs of the Famagusta district will be covered by the Dhekelia desalination plant, also supplementing with the minimum possible quantities from the Kouris dam.
In particular, it is expected that there will be a deficit in covering the water supply needs of the Limassol district of 1 GCM per month from February 2026 onwards, with the deficit increasing to 1.6 GCM per month during the summer months. Also, it is expected that there will be a deficit in covering the water supply needs of the Famagusta district of 0.2 GCM per month from February 2026 onwards. In the districts of Nicosia and Larnaca, a deficit of 0.5 GCM is expected to be observed in May 2026 and to increase to 1 – 1.4 GCM, per month during the summer and autumn months of 2026. Finally, a deficit is expected to be observed in covering the water supply needs of Paphos from April 2026 onwards.
In order to strengthen the water balance of Limassol by approximately 756,000 cubic meters/month, the installation of mobile desalination plants is being promoted in Garyllis (10,000 cubic meters/day), the port of Limassol (10,000 cubic meters/day) and the Monastery (10,000 cubic meters/day). The installation of the units is expected to be completed within 2026.
In addition, in order to cover the water supply deficit, the expansion of the capacity of the Episkopi desalination plant is being promoted, with the installation of a temporary desalination unit with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters/day within the area of the permanent unit.
The biggest problem that is expected to arise in the Paphos district is the coverage of the daily demand for water supply during the summer months, where the demand in the area is increased. Specifically, based on the existing capacity of the refinery, a deficit of 10,000 cubic meters/day is expected to be created, mainly in the months of July and August 2025.
In order to cover the deficit during the peak period, the Water Development Department intends to utilize water supply boreholes downstream of the Asprokremmos dam, with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters/day, provided that their reliability is confirmed, both in quality and quantity.
As far as 2026 is concerned, with the unfavourable assumption that there will be no inflow into the dams in the first months of the hydrological year 2025 – 2026 (starting on 1/10/2025), and given that the desalination plant in Kouklia will be put into operation in September 2025, a deficit is expected to be observed in covering the water supply needs of Paphos from April 2026 onwards.
In order to strengthen the water balance of Paphos by approximately 252,000 cubic meters/month, the installation of a mobile desalination plant with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters/day in the area of Kissonerga is being promoted. The plant is expected to be installed in late 2025 and early 2026. If it operates in the whole of 2026, the plant will add a quantity of 3.24 ECM for the year.
In addition, in order to cover the water supply deficit observed, the expansion of the capacity of the Paphos desalination plant is being promoted, with the installation of a temporary desalination plant with a capacity of up to 10,000 cubic meters/day within the premises of the permanent unit.
Reinforcement of water supply in Chrysochous Bay
For Polis Chrysochous, the TAY has included in its immediate plans the design and construction of a high-speed refinery unit with water abstraction from the Evretous dam, in order to cover the water supply needs of the municipal district of Neo Chorio, providing for the possibility of covering the tourist area of Latsi. Today, the coverage of this apartment is done by boreholes that draw water from the Androlykou aquifer. Today's needs are around 1,200 cubic meters/day during the summer season. The proposal includes the construction of a high-speed refinery that will initially produce 1,500 km/day with the possibility of expanding it up to 3,000 km/day and starting operation in the summer of 2026.
Utilization of boreholes to cover communities
With the aim of improving the water supply of communities that are supplied with water from community wells or springs and meeting emergency water supply needs due to problems due to the degradation of aquifers due to drought, the implementation of a series of projects for the needs of 60 communities is being promoted. These projects include the restoration/utilization of existing boreholes and/or the excavation of new ones in collaboration with the Geological Survey Department to enhance the water balance, the construction/repair of water reservoirs to increase storage space, the use of fast refineries and the replacement/repair of pipelines to reduce losses. Depending on the needs presented, the water supply reinforcement/rehabilitation projects are added/differentiated. A total of 18 boreholes will be exploited in Nicosia, 7 in Limassol, 5 in Paphos and 2 in Larnaca.
