Filenews 22 May 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Against the backdrop of the acute water shortage affecting the Paphos district and the non-operation of the desalination plant, the Ministry of Agriculture, through its General Director, announced a package of immediate and alternative measures to prevent a serious crisis in the water supply of the region. In a broad meeting with local bodies, the emergency management plan was presented by the Water Development Department (TAY), aiming at the adequacy of drinking water during the next critical months.
The prolonged drought, combined with the non-operation of the desalination plant in Kouklia, make it necessary to implement strict and realistic measures to meet the demand for drinking water in the coming months. However, the success of the project depends to a large extent on rational consumption. As noted characteristically, the uncontrolled use of water does not constitute a justified increase in demand and can lead to the failure of even the most well-designed measures.
The aim is to cover the maximum daily demand, which is estimated at 43,000 cubic meters (to last year's maximum demand which was 41,300 cubic meters, an increase rate of 4% is now added) for the wider area of Paphos and Peyia, with a total requirement by the end of the year reaching 9,154,200 cubic meters.
The main sources of water supply include the Asprokremmos and Kannavi dams, the Anarita and Kannavi refineries, as well as drilling in various parts of the region. The total available quantity from these sources amounts to 9,173,300 cubic meters, marginally covering the demand.
The maximum daily yield in cubic meters from the Anarita refinery is 30,000 from the Asprokremmos dam (5,586,720 cubic meters by the end of the year) and from the Kannavio dam (1,193,280 cubic meters by the end of the year). Also, 3,500 cubic meters per day are supplied from the Kannaviou refinery for Peyia, with production reaching 723,200 cubic meters by the end of the year. Therefore, a daily production of 33,500 cubic meters is expected from the two refineries.
In addition, 11,520 cubic meters will be produced by boreholes. From drilling upstream of Asprokremmos 1,260 cubic meters (284,760 cubic meters by the end of the year), downstream of Asprokremmos 9,000 cubic meters per day (1,260,600 by the end of the year) and another 1,260 cubic meters from June 15 for the Peyia area from drilling by the Department of Geological Survey.
By the end of the year, the water delivery will reach 1,260 cubic meters. The total daily water production from both sources is estimated at 45,020 and by the end of the year 9,173,300.
