THERE will be no water cuts in the near future: instead the government is hoping to ship water over from Lebanon.
The decision was reached in a three-hour meeting yesterday headed by new Agriculture Minister Michalis Polynikis.
The minister said the aim was to find solutions to the dire water situation that would be as painless as possible for the public.
Polynikis said he had been in contact with the Lebanese government and that Cypriot officials were ready to visit Lebanon for water quality tests, adding that the water supplied from Lebanon would be free of charge.
“It is a kind offer which reflects the support Cyprus offered Lebanon in the difficult times it went through,” Polynikis said, referring to the role played by Cyprus to assist humanitarian efforts during the Israeli onslaught on the country in 2006.
Replying to questions, the Minister said a tanker of a specific company could transport 100,000 tonnes of water per day, translating into 35 million cubic metres per annum, which could be multiplied by three, thus reaching 105 million cubic metres of water.
The authorities are also considering where they could store the water, looking at the Yermasoyia and Moni dams.
The minister added that the amount it would cost to transport the water was equal to what it would cost to build a new desalination plant.
Experts, however, warn that Cyprus does not possess the infrastructure for such a project. “Our infrastructure can accommodate ships bringing in fuels and crude oil, but not large, water-carrying tankers,” a senior official at the Port Authority told the Cyprus Mail only last month.
“We can only handle the smaller water barges, which bring in smaller amounts of water,” he said.
Works to build the necessary port infrastructure could take up to ten months, a senior water engineer at the Water Development Department had added at the time.
If the Lebanon scenario doesn’t work out, Polynikis said yesterday the government would be forced to impose water restrictions. But he added that he did not favour water cuts, examining instead the possibility of setting a maximum quota of water supply for all households. The thought was for households to be charged extra if they wished to use more water. This, he added, would sensitise the public further to the island’s water problem.
Polynikis said while the Lebanese option was being explored, the water boards, the municipalities and the communities would also examine ways to implement the quota system, which could be applied soon.
Polynikis said data on future climate conditions meant the problem would only get worse: “We will unfortunately be in a situation that in time we will face the same or worse problems.”
Cyprus has been facing drought for the past four years with serious repercussions on water storage in dams and the agricultural and farming sector.
While on March 1, 2006 the water stored in dams stood at 134 million cubic metres, on March 1, 2007 it had dropped to 70 million cubic metres and on March 1 this year it was only 28 million cubic metres, a mere 10 per cent of the total storage capacity of the island’s dams.
Water demands for 2008 are expected to reach 66.7 million cubic metres, with available supply currently at no more than 50 million cubic metres.
