PAPHOS DAMS AT 23% OCCUPANCY, DESPITE RAINFALL - Filenews 21/3 by Dora Christodoulou
The situation in the dams of the Paphos district remains at approximately the same levels, without a significant change in occupancy, which is still at very low rates, specifically around 23%, according to information from the Water Development Department in Paphos.
As he said, despite the rainfall of the last few days, there is not expected to be a serious differentiation in the total water reserves, although the inflows continue.
First in the province of Paphos, the small dam of Pomos, with a capacity of only 860,000 cubic meters of water, overflowed, after the very heavy rains that occurred in the area at that time.
This was followed by the overflow of the Argaka dam. Both dams are mainly used for irrigation of the many crops in the area and are important infrastructures for agricultural activity.
The Argaka dam has a capacity of 990,000 cubic meters of water and, from the category of large dams, is considered the smallest. The dam is part of the Chrysochous irrigation project and the main purpose of its operation is to irrigate the agricultural lands of the area.
In addition, according to the same information, the dam of Argaka, because it is part of the Chrysochous irrigation project, operates in combination with the dams of Evretos, Agia Marina and Pomos, creating a single water management system to serve the irrigation needs of the area.
Besides, the Xeros River, which ends at the Asprokremmos dam in the province of Paphos, is rushing these days due to the prolonged rainfall, contributing to water inflows and strengthening the dam's reserves.
What the Paphos Water Development Department expects is that the water inflows into the dams will continue. How much and to what extent the reserves will increase will be assessed after the rainfall wave is over. The inflows continue today, which creates cautious optimism.
There is particular joy and optimism in the community of Argaka and Pomos after the overflow of the dams in the area, an event that had not happened for a long time and residents and visitors to the area rushed to see the impressive spectacle of the overflow up close.
The President of the Paphos District Self-Government Organization, Charalambos Pittokopitis, told KYPE that the situation regarding the water issue in the city and province of Paphos is manageable
The Paphos District Self-Government Organization is, as he said, in full coordination and communication with the office of the District Engineer of the Water Development Department for the implementation of programs and actions aimed at containing water consumption and losses.
Already, as he mentioned, an agreement has been concluded and there is a contractor so that any damages that cause water losses can be treated within the same day they are detected. This measure has brought about significant water savings. At the same time, communication with the Ministry of Agriculture is progressing, he continued, for a public awareness campaign aimed at limiting reckless water waste and overconsumption.
As Mr. Pittokopitis mentioned, the process of approving the operating regulations of the Provincial Self-Government Organization is also progressing, which include higher costs for overconsumption as a measure of pressure on consumers, so that they are more careful in the use of water. He clarified, however, that overpricing will only be applied where overconsumption is detected, while in the normal consumption of families the prices will remain the same, which are considered low and reasonable.
CNA
