Filenews 22 October 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The ongoing drought has led to a serious deterioration of the water balance, with the result that the water reserves in the dams currently amount to only 33 million cubic meters (11.3% occupancy), compared to 78 million cubic meters (26.8%) last year. In Kouris the water reserves are 12 million. or 10.5% occupancy.
Based on the worst-case scenarios for 2026, a further reduction or even depletion of water reserves in the dams of the districts of Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta is predicted, which will lead to serious restrictions on irrigation and possibly savings measures in water supply, if there is no substantial improvement in hydrological conditions. In Paphos District, although no water shortages are expected, it is estimated that significant restrictions on irrigation will be required to ensure water sufficiency.
The above remarks were made yesterday by the Director General of the General Directorate of Agriculture, Andreas Grigoriou, informing the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture about the immediate and medium-term interventions planned to deal with the prolonged water shortage, which seriously affects both the primary sector and the water security of the country.
The focus of the briefing was on the design and promotion of three new mobile desalination plants within 2026, which are considered necessary to strengthen the water supply in sensitive areas of Cyprus.
According to what Mr. Grigoriou mentioned, a public tender is already underway for the creation of a mobile desalination plant in Episkopi, with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters of water per day. This is an area that faces intense pressures, especially during the summer months, both due to tourism development and limited natural runoff.
At the same time, consultations are at an advanced stage for the installation of two more desalination plants:
a) At the EAC power station in Vasiliko, a strategic location with the possibility of interconnection with the existing energy and water supply network.
b) In the free province of Famagusta, an area that is among the most vulnerable in terms of water sufficiency, especially in the summer months, due to the increased tourist traffic.
As noted, the goal is for the units to be fully operational before the summer of 2026, in order to anticipate the needs of the next dry season.
Following the installation of a mobile desalination unit at the EAC eP in Moni with a capacity of 15,000 m³/day, units with a capacity of 10,000 m³/day are expected to be operational before the end of 2025 in Kissonerga, the Garyllis riverbed in Limassol and the port of Limassol.
The general manager's briefing underlined the strategic importance of desalination for independence from rainfall, noting that today there are five permanent desalination plants operating with a total capacity of 235,000 cubic meters/day, covering more than 70% of the needs of large urban centers.
From the first unit in Dhekelia (1997) until today, five large permanent desalination plants have been operating (Dhekelia, Larnaca, Vasiliko, Episkopi, Paphos).
The integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in the new units is a key issue for the sustainability of the model, something that is strongly discussed in the plans of the General Directorate.
Particular emphasis was also placed on the effects of water scarcity on the primary sector, with farmers already being asked by text messages from the WDD to avoid new plantings without water assurance for 2026. The briefing also included financial support measures, but also the promotion of the reuse of reclaimed water, which in 2024 already covered 29% of irrigation needs. Similarly, in 2023 it covered 21% of the amount of water allocated for irrigation. It is noted that about 90% of the recovered water from tertiary treatment is reused, mainly for irrigation of agricultural land and enrichment of underground aquifers.
According to Mr. Grigoriou, the procedures for the construction of two new permanent desalination plants are in the works, one in eastern Limassol and one in Dhekelia, as a replacement for the existing unit.
These projects, if approved and financed, will significantly enhance the long-term security of Cyprus' water supply.
Irrigation in the Solea Valley is delayed
WDD: Obstacles from the refusal of communities to participate in land consolidation projects
Serious delays are observed in the completion of irrigation projects in the Solea Valley, despite the completion of the Solea dam and a significant part of the basic infrastructure. The irrigation projects, which were planned to be implemented in parallel with the construction of the dam, are progressing slowly, mainly due to social and administrative obstacles.
The main reason for the delay, according to the Water Development Department (WDD), was the refusal of the communities to join Land Consolidation Plans, which complicated the design of the irrigation network. The non-inclusion resulted in the need for time-consuming expropriation procedures and the securing of consents for the routing of pipelines, especially for the tertiary network.
Since the start of the works in 2010 until today, important projects have been completed, such as: a) The Solea earthen dam (56 meters high and with a capacity of 4.5 million m³), along with the diversion works. b) The diversion dam in Evrychou, made of concrete. c) Four pumping stations. d) Four balancing tanks, with a total volume of 7,300 m³. e) Pipelines for the transmission of the 1st and part of the 2nd network and f) tertiary network in the area of Temvria.
The works until 2013 were completed by a contractor, while the rest (2nd and 3rd Temvria network) were implemented in phases until 2022 through smaller contracts.
Current situation by community:
Temvria: Since 2018 it has been fully operating as a government water project.
Flassou, Linos, Katydata: The installation of the main pipelines was completed in 2022.
Korakou and Evrychou: The 1st network was completed in 2022, while the 2nd is in progress and has not been completed.
The WDD is currently in the process of preparing the documents for the offer of consulting services to private researchers, with the aim of completing the studies for the tertiary network in the communities of Flasos, Linos, Korakou and Evrychou. The tender is expected to be announced by the end of 2025.
At the same time, the Planning Service and the Land Registry Department started sending letters to about 2,700 parcel owners in May 2024, requesting consent for the passage of the pipelines. So far: 25% of owners have responded positively, 1% have submitted objections, 74% have not yet responded.
For the latter, the Department is in the process of securing permission from the District Administration to promote the projects.
The objections mainly concern the protection of centuries-old olive trees and permanent structures such as retaining walls.
