The shortage of water is one of the most serious problems that Cyprus has faced through the centuries. There are very frequent droughts and it is believed that the climatic change in the Mediterranean basin will result in further reductions in the annual and seasonal availability of water.
In view of these challenges, the requirement to identify and implement measures aiming at the increase of available water resources and water safety are a priority. The objective is to secure that water requirements for all uses such as residential, agricultural, industrial environmental and other uses are met as much as possible.
Within these frameworks, significant construction works in the field of water development were built in the last decades for water supply, irrigation, the protection and the environment and other uses such as dams, water treatment plants, pumping stations, water conveyance projects, works for the protection of rivers and enrichment works. Operation and preventive maintenance works and where necessary, improvement and upgrading works are duly carried out in relation to these projects. Certainly, to secure that water requirements for all uses are met as much as possible, the planning, study and construction of new water development projects is necessary.
The main projects that are underway are the following: |
 | • | Vassilikos Water Project, Nicosia |
| | The purpose of the project is to meet the water supply requirements in the wider area of Nicosia and improve the reliability of the drinking water supply system in Nicosia. The project concerns the construction of around 160 KM long pipes and accompanying projects, tanks and pumping stations for the conveyance of desalinized water produced in Vassilikos Desalination Plant to Nicosia. |
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| • | Enrichment of the water supply of Free Famagusta (Kokkinokremmos Conveyor and Infrastructure projects) |
| | The purpose of the project is to reinforce the reliability of the water supply system and the sustainable development of the communities of the area and support the tourist industry. The project concerns the construction of a conveyor which shall be around 25 kilometers long and storage tanks of a total capacity of 35,000 cubic metres. |
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| • | Interconnection of Paphos dams (Evretou, Kannaviou and Askrokremmos)- Paphos Desalination |
| | This interconnection will offer great flexibility in the management of the three dams, particularly in years with little rainfall or drought, so as to enrich Paphos Project from another source of water in addition to Paphos Permanent Desalination Plant. |
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| • | Paphos Permanent Desalination Plant |
| | Construction of a permanent Desalination Plant at Kouklia in Paphos, of a daily capacity of 15,000 cubic metres so that the water supply of the wider Paphos area is no longer dependent on the climatic conditions, in accordance with the proclaimed water policy. |
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| Despite the construction of many projects, the water shortage problem remains. To handle the problem and enhance the reliability of water sources for water supply and irrigation, the maximum possible exploitation of unconventional water sources is promoted, such as desalination and recycling. The use of unconventional water resources reduces the dependency of water supply on climatic conditions, contributes in the adjustment to climatic change and risk prevention and reinforces the water balance. Desalination has enhanced the provision of drinking water and thanks to it, the large residential, peri-urban and tourist centres are no longer dependent on the fluctuation of rainfall. The use of recycled water is expected to increase water supply for irrigation and reduce the risk of drought. Recycled water is a stable source of water given that the quantities produced are directly dependent on urban consumption of drinking water while at the same time, water quantities are used which would otherwise be lost. |
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| • | Use of Recycled Water of West Nicosia (Anthoupolis- Paliometocho) |
| | The project includes the construction of a recycled water storage tank in Anthoupoli of a capacity of 500 000 cubic metres and a tank of a capacity of 500 000 cubic metres in Paliometocho as well as conveyors and accompanying works for the irrigation of areas in Deftera, Palimetocho, Kokkinotrimithia, Gerolakkos, Mitseros and Ay. Trimithias. |
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| • | Use of Recycled Water in Eastern Nicosia (Vathia Gonia) |
| | The project includes the construction of a recycled water storage tank in Vathia Gonia of a capacity of 1.3 million cubic metres as well as conveyors and accompanying projects for irrigation of the existing irrigation network of Ay. Sozomenos-Dali-Potamia as well as new areas in Dali, Nisou, Tseri etc. a storage tank of a capacity of 1.6 million cubic metres and conveyors for the transport of recycled water of Mia Milia for irrigation in Athienou, Lympia, Avdellero etc. |
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| • | Use of Recycled Water, Larnaca |
| | The project includes the construction of a dam for winter storage of a capacity of 3.6 million cubic meters in Tersefanou, as well as conveyors for the conveyance of recycled water produced in the Larnaca Waste Water Treatment Station, towards irrigation areas in Tersefanou, Dromolaxia, Meneou and Kiti. |
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| In addition, within the context of green development, new technologies are studied to limit both losses at the source (e.g. evaporations) and losses are the water conveyance and distribution networks. |
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