Water plant output unchanged, despite damage

By Jennie Matthew

OPERATORS of the Dhekelia Desalination Plant yesterday denied that damage to its giant underwater supply pipeline had lessened output or caused extra filtration problems.

The company, Karamontanis Desalination Plants Ltd, also reiterated its warning for divers to avoid the area, given the danger that they could get sucked into the 500-metre long pipe if they strayed too close.

Lying on the seabed, the pipe carries seawater to the plant’s pumping station, from where it is piped to the desalination unit.

A grid attached to the mouth of the pipe broke off two weeks ago during violent storms.

Even with the mesh in place and intact, fish and debris such as plastic bags are routinely sucked into the pumping station.

Although larger objects can now enter the pipe, Karamontanis insisted that a complicated screening process ensured that the absent mesh made no difference to the quality of water produced.

“It has no particular affect on the plant and we are still producing water at the same capacity,” Company director Stavros Karamontanis said.

He said the main purpose of the mesh had been to prevent divers from getting sucked into the pipe by accident.

The danger area has been marked by a buoy some 250 metres offshore.

“We must warn people,” he said, suggesting that divers stay clear of the area until the replacement grid arrives. It has been ordered, but Karamontanis said he did not know when it would arrive. It could be possibly as late as March.