Filenews 12 June 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Important issues of water resource management, worn out networks and complaints of possible water theft came to light during the debate in the Parliamentary Audit Committee on the occasion of the Audit Service's report on climate change adaptation.
During the session, the Provincial Development Agencies (EDAs) expressed particular concern, presenting data on serious water losses, ageing networks and deficiencies in the control and recording of consumption.
The EDA Larnaca denounced that in many communities there are indications of unbilled water reaching up to 40%, stressing that there are cases of water theft through illegal underground connections. As pointed out, these are practices that are difficult to identify, resulting in reckless waste and burden on the system. Local authorities had not invested in upgrading the networks in time, so the losses were significant.
On the part of the Paphos EOA, Charalambos Pittokopitis spoke of the more difficult situation compared to the other provinces. As he said, the water supply network is outdated, with serious damage and continuous damage. He referred specifically to the community of Akoussos, with only 50 inhabitants, where the cost of replacing a pipeline amounts to €300,000 emphasizing the disproportionate financial burden on small communities.
Special reference was made to the destruction of the desalination plant in Kouklia due to a fire, which caused further pressure on the water supply in the area. Indicatively, it is expected to reopen between August 10 and 25.
He added that the greatest losses were recorded in municipalities and communities, while to date efforts are being made to manage the situation in order to avoid cuts in the water supply.
The Limassol EDA presented a similar picture, with the water supply networks in the communities being particularly outdated, several times without even the existence of cash. It was mentioned that in May about 30 breakdowns were recorded per day, while a month later this number had more than doubled. Water loss in the province has now reached 40%, from 20% previously. It was proposed that infrastructure projects mature in order to secure European funding.
The Famagusta EDA, which took over management on July 1, reported that water losses in 2023 reached 37% in nine communities. There was talk of the absence of meters and poor monitoring of consumption, resulting in the loss of 4.5 billion liters of water annually. In Paralimni, the losses reach 40%, while there are hotel units that illegally use boreholes. The installation of smart meters and projects to reduce leaks is underway.
Targeted measures to reduce water losses
The Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Andreas Grigoriou, underlined that the Provincial Local Government Organizations highlighted critical issues related to the management of water resources, including the extensive loss of water quantities.
As he said, the losses in the transmission networks managed by the TAY are limited. On the contrary, the most serious problems are identified in the distribution networks of the NEAs, mainly in areas that have recently come under their jurisdiction or where there was no functioning of a Water Supply Board until 1 July 2024.
At the same time, Mr. Grigoriou referred to the funding of €8 million to the EDAs, to cover projects to reduce losses in the water supply networks. According to Mr. Grigoriou, these are interventions that can be implemented within a year and offer immediate benefits. He further referred to the ongoing support of €1 million for the period 2025-2027, for similar projects in communities that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the EDCs, enhancing the supply of water even in the most remote areas.
He stressed that the above moves are part of a comprehensive water management and saving plan, aimed at strengthening the country's water security and supporting the primary sector.
Audit Service: Two more reports in the works, one on losses
The representative of the Audit Service, Akis Kikas, underlined that three important reports have been made on the management of water resources, with emphasis on adaptation to climate change. He noted that two more reports on losses and management control are expected, which have been submitted to the Water Development Department for opinions.
As he stressed, it is difficult to separate the responsibilities of the state, while it was pointed out that a Plan must be implemented immediately in order to improve the use of recovered water and limit discharges into the sea.
The report highlights the need to boost the efficiency of desalination plants by investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar. The continuous operation of these units affects the price of water and burdens consumers. It was also proposed to develop mobile desalination units to cover emergencies, as in the case of the fire in Paphos.
The report concludes that the programming of €1.2 billion projects to improve water policy is over-optimistic, with serious challenges in terms of financing, coordination and sustainability of interventions. The proposals include regular updating of management plans and efficient cost recovery in order to reduce inequalities among consumers.
