Nicosia: Reservoirs received around 140,000 cubic metres (CBM) of water over the past 24 hours, with about 118,000 cubic metres flowing into Kouris reservoir, Water Development Department (WDD) Executive Engineer Alexios Frangeskos told CNA on Wednesday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the rainfall does not change the overall water situation or current planning, although it has been highly beneficial for irrigation. Frangeskos stated that while the overall picture remains unaffected, farmers in some areas may have avoided one or two irrigation cycles, helping reduce their annual water needs.
When asked about the sufficiency of water to meet domestic needs until the end of the year, Frangeskos confirmed there is enough, with more than 75% of domestic water demand covered by desalination plants. He noted that reservoirs currently hold around 120 million cubic metres of water, or about 40% of total capacity, and no restrictions are in place. However, he emphasized the need for caution due to recent volatility in rainfall and reservoir inflows.
Frangeskos addressed the possibility of supplying additional water through the Southern Conveyor for the new potato planting season, a concern expected to be raised by agriculture organizations with the new Agriculture Minister. He mentioned that there does not appear to be room for additional irrigation allocations, as the Department now evaluates water allocation over a three-year horizon instead of annually.
Based on conservative scenarios examined over a three-year period, Frangeskos expressed a lack of sufficient water availability to safely allocate additional quantities. He assured that if the Department is asked to review the issue, they would respond within feasible limits and provide assistance as needed.
On the topic of reclaimed water, Frangeskos highlighted that more than 20 million cubic metres are used annually nationwide for permitted crop irrigation. He noted that Limassol district is almost entirely irrigated with reclaimed water, with additional quantities expected as more areas connect to sewerage systems and infrastructure projects complete.
Frangeskos concluded by urging the public to continue conserving water despite recent rainfall, emphasizing that water-saving habits should become part of everyday culture.