Water Resources


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The Department’s main activities in the groundwater resources sector are related to exploration, monitoring and protection of groundwater, meeting communities’ needs for potable water, implementing the relative national and European legislation and providing advisory services regarding water resources and the environment.

More specifically, the Department conducts hydrogeological studies for the drilling of water supply boreholes, for the assessment of the aquifers’ status (quantitative and qualitative) and for the delineation of borehole protection zones. It also contributes in the monitoring and assessment of the status of all waters, within the framework of the Nitropollution Directive 91/676/EEC and the Groundwater Directive 2006/118/EU. Finally, it manages the government boreholes and aides in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EU.


Meeting the needs for potable water and
managing the government boreholes

Improving the knowledge on groundwater resources
and contributing to their monitoring and protection
        Hydrogeological studies and drilling water supply boreholes, primarily for communities not connected with main government water supply schemes
        The Department conducts hydrogeological studies and drilling of production boreholes for meeting the needs of communities for potable water.
        2015: In 2015 eighteen (18) boreholes have been drilled, seventeen (17) of which for water supply, summing up to a total of 3613 meters. Thirteen (13) boreholes have been pump tested. These boreholes have been drilled in order to address water supply issues in the communities of Galata, Gialia, Ag. Georgiou kafkallou, Tsakistra and Troodos.
        2016: In 2016, twenty (20) water supply boreholes have been drilled, summing up to a total of 4871 meters. Fifteen (15) boreholes have been pump tested. These boreholes have been drilled in order to address water supply issues in the communities of Louvaras, Palaichori Morfou, Prastio Kellakiou, Orounta and for the Arkolakhania Water Supply Scheme.
        2017: In 2017, fifteen (15) water supply boreholes have been drilled, summing up to a total of 3361 meters. Thirteen (13) boreholes have been pump tested. These boreholes have been drilled in order to address water supply issues in the communities of Fterikoudi, Platanistasa, Zoopigi, Dymes, Archimantrida and for the Arkolakhania Water Supply Scheme.
        Managing and licensing the use of government boreholes.
        Under the Geological Survey Law (140(Ι) /2013), no government borehole shall be used prior to the full reimbursement of its drilling cost to the Department or without the issuing of the relevant license. The Department has the responsibility of managing all government boreholes. Within this framework, it issues license for the use of government boreholes, upon a relevant application addressed to the Director. Such an application can be submitted by organized groups or individuals. In 2017 eight (8) new licences have been issued and 53 renewed.

        Forms :
        1. Application form for the use of government boreholes
        2. Application form for the renewal of the licence for the use of government boreholes
        Groundwater status assesment studies
        The Department values highly the compilation of studies related to water resources. These are mostly of practical nature aiming in contributing in the management, development and protection of the water resources. They are mostly carried out in collaboration with other government departments as well as with universities and research institutes.
        Current hydrogeological studies:
        a) Compilation of a hydro-lithological map of Troodos.
        b) Participation in the European research project CrITERIA for studying hexavalent chromium (Cr6) in the groundwater in the Mediterranean region. Link στο έρευνες και προγράμματα
        c) Monitoring and assessing the qualitative and quantitative status of the groundwater systems within the framework of National and European legislation implementation. Link στο έρευνες και προγράμματα
        d) Participation to the European research project Resource for the compilation of a single hydrogeological map of Europe. Link στο έρευνες και προγράμματα
        e) Participation in the European research project Hover for the better understanding of the mechanisms affecting of groundwater quality in Europe. Link στο έρευνες και προγράμματα
        Monitoring and assesment of the water status under the directive 91/676/EEC for nitropollution, the directive 2006/118/EC for groundwater and contribution to the implementation of the water framework directive 2000/60/EC
        Monitoring network under the directive 91/676/EEC for the protection of waters against nitropolution of agricultural origin
        The network comprises of 222 groundwater and 13 surface water, quality monitoring stations. Sampling frequency is twice a year for groundwater and monthly for surface waters. This network is under the European directive 91/676EEC, in relation to the protection of waters against nitropolution of agricultural origin, and it covers all major aquifers although it focuses on Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs); namely the areas of Kokkinochoria, Kiti-Pervolia, Pegia, Akrotiri, Polis Chrysochous, Oroundas and Pentashinos.

        Monitoring network under the directive 2006/118/ΕΚ for the protection of groundwater from pollution and deterioration

        The network comprises of 92 groundwater quality monitoring stations. Sampling frequency is twice a year and the analysis is performed both by the State Laboratory (for pesticides, trace elements and organic compounds) and the Geological Survey’s laboratory (for chlorine ions, sulphates, nitrates and nitrate, ammonium and electrical conductivity).


        Groundwater level monitoring

        The network comprises of 81 telemetric and five (5) grounwater level and temperature loggers which cover the major aquifers of Cyprus. Eighteen (18) of these stations are also utilized for the groundwater quantitative monitoring program under the water framework directive 2000/60/EC. The collected data are saved and ustilized in water balancing studies, groundwater artificial and natural recharge studies as well as in monitoring seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers.


        Precipitation quality monitoring network

        The Department maintains a precipitation quality monitoring network that comprices of twenty (20) stations. Samples are collected from each precipitation event (higher than 20 mm.). Monitoring parameters are chlorine ions, sulphates, electrical conductivity and pH.











      Compilation of hydrogeological studies for the delineation of water supply borehole protection zones.
      Under the regulation ΚΔΠ45/1996 of the Law 106 (Ι) 2002, protection zones shall be delineated for all potable water supply boreholes. The Department compiles the necessary hydrogeological studies and submits the technical reports for the delineation of these protection zones. Up to today, 318 such studies have been undertaken.

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