The Council of Ministers approved, during today's Meeting, the revised distribution of water reserves by region and use for 2026, on the basis of updated hydrological data and after an assessment of the actual water supply and irrigation needs.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture, the decision is part of the new strategic framework for the management of water resources, with a three-year planning for the first time, in order to ensure water sufficiency and the maintenance of safe reserves. Despite the improvement recorded in the dams due to the rainfall of the first months of the year, the available data require prudent and responsible management, in order to avoid the mistakes of the past. For this reason, the new allocation is based on the worst-case scenario for future hydrological conditions.
As part of the review, an additional concession of 3.5 million cubic meters of water for irrigation was approved, of which:
2 million cubic metres for the Paphos Major Irrigation Project
1.5 million cubic metres for the Unified Southern Pipeline Scheme
The additional quantities will be allocated exclusively to professional farmers, with priority given to permanent crops and always within the limits allowed by the water balance. The decision is based on specific commitments made by the HOA Paphos, with which the cooperation remains close and continuous.
With the new allocation, the total quantities of water for 2026 are as follows:
Water supply: 121.7 million cubic meters
Irrigation: 41.2 million cubic meters
The Government continues to implement a comprehensive plan to address water scarcity, which includes:
Irrigation: 41.2 million cubic meters
The Government continues to implement a comprehensive plan to address water scarcity, which includes:
-new desalination plants,
-reduction of losses in the networks,
-utilization of reclaimed water,
-saving actions in all sectors.
The aim is to shield the country against the effects of climate change and to ensure that water resources will safely meet the needs of citizens and agricultural production.
