Filenews 22 May 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
In a decisive decision to strengthen the protection of Cyprus' water resources, the Council of Ministers approved a proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment to amend the current water saving legislation. This move is part of the National Action Plan to tackle water scarcity, a problem that is emerging as a constant threat to Cyprus, due to the climate crisis and limited natural resources.
In order for the proposed legislation to enter into force, it must be approved by the Parliament, and therefore it is expected to be formally submitted to the Plenary today, while at the same time Minister Maria Panayiotou is expected to appeal to the President of the Parliament for the immediate discussion of the bill in a parliamentary committee.
Based on the new legislative proposal, entitled "The Water Saving (Special Measures) (Amendment) Law of 2025", the measures and penalties relating to the unnecessary use of water, especially in activities such as washing sidewalks, streets, terraces, walls, windows, railings, vehicles and boats using a hose. The consumption of water for these purposes is now becoming stricter, with penalties including imprisonment of up to six months and fines of up to €3,000.
It is emphasized that a premises refers to a house, a shop, an apartment building, a hotel, a factory, a laboratory, a livestock unit or an independent part thereof. It is noted that for businesses, industrial units or other premises where water is proven to be used for professional purposes of the company, industrial unit or premises, it is allowed to consume water for washing, using a high-pressure washing machine or other water saving system.
Significant changes are also taking place in the implementation of the legislation. The Provincial Local Government Organizations are designated as competent Authorities, while the general supervision of the Law is assigned to the Minister of Agriculture, by the Minister of the Interior, which was until now. At the same time, competent authorities are given the opportunity to authorise non-public officials for inspections and the issuance of extrajudicial fines, which increase from €30 to €100 and to €300 for repeat offenses.
Special provision has also been taken for the cases of domestic workers, where the out-of-court fine will be transferred to the employer. Also, the possibility of submitting complaints by citizens, surnamed or anonymous, which the competent authority must examine, is guaranteed.
The Council of Ministers also approved the repeal of the old Regulations of 1991 and 1998, which regulate, among other things, the type of notification documents, in the context of the rationalization of the legislative framework. Definitions of key concepts, such as 'water', are also updated to cover both surface and groundwater (boreholes), as well as 'hose' and 'high-pressure washers'.
The explanatory memorandum of the proposal states that the autonomy and strengthening of the legislation was deemed necessary due to the urgent need for rational management of water resources. Cyprus is often confronted with water scarcity, making water waste not only environmentally, but also socially unacceptable.
The relevant bill and the accompanying Regulations will be submitted to the Parliament for a vote. If approved, they will take effect immediately, marking a new era of stricter control, but also wider awareness around the value of water.
In the context of the implementation of the action plan to tackle water scarcity, it has been decided, among other things, to tighten the legislation to reduce the uncontrolled use and waste of water. In order to reduce water waste in the country, it was decided to strengthen and update the legal framework regarding water saving in Cyprus, where, due to the climate and limited water resources, it faces serious challenges in terms of its adequacy and due to this urgent need.
The legal framework for saving water is tightened
Under the proposed law, any police officer or authorised officer of the competent authority who has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is committing or has committed an offence in breach of this Law may serve him with a written notice, giving him the opportunity to get rid of the offence in question by paying a fine of €100 and, if such fine is paid before the expiry of 30 days from the date of the notification,
In case it is found that the act constituting an offence is repeated more than once by the same person or is related more than once to the same premises, the amount of the extrajudicial fine is increased to €300.
Furthermore, it is noted that any person who obstructs a person, in the performance of his duties, commits an offence and, in case of conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding €1,000 or to a prison sentence not exceeding six months or both.
In order to avoid any abuse of the procedure by the competent Authority called upon to implement the legislation, provisions have been introduced, enabling the person who has received written notification following a complaint to submit an objection for examination by the competent Authority.
Furthermore, it is considered appropriate to establish complaint management procedures either through internal procedures or by Regulations, so that the competent Authority is able to respond within the limits of legality and without violating the privacy of the person who has been complained.
The proposed legislation has a positive environmental impact, as it strengthens the terminological management of water resources, reduces water waste and promotes awareness of good environmental management among both citizens and businesses.
The proposed legislation is expected to reduce water waste, a valuable natural resource for Cyprus, which is a country with limited water resources and frequent water scarcity problems, especially during the summer months.
The legislation significantly strengthens society's ability to adapt to climate change, reducing the waste of a critical resource, while also contributing to mitigating its impact, through the reduction of energy consumption and emissions.
