WATER cuts in Nicosia may be increased and fines are being considered for those who install extra water tanks.
The President of the Nicosia Waterboard, Argyris Papanastasiou, has proposed fines for those who have installed extra water-tanks and store water at the expense of other consumers. The Waterboards will raise the subject of changing the legislation, so that the installation of a second water tank is rendered a penal offence.
“The reservoirs of the Nicosia Water Board are almost empty and will not be able to provide water, not even for the twelve hours that each area is entitled to. With the temperature rising, the consumption of water has increased. We are also considering water cuts to GSP and Makarios Stadiums,” Nicosia Water Board director, Nicos Zambakides has said.
On Thursday, the Waterboards of all the districts said they would be asking the government to supply larger quantities of water for the Easter holiday.
If the government agrees constant running water will be supplied to households from Holy (Maundy) Thursday to Easter Tuesday.
The Water Board is not in favour of increasing the penalty for wasting water, preferring the long-term policy of increasing awareness among the public. “I want the cooperation of the consumers for water saving,” Zambakides said.
“Mobile desalination units have been promoted and at our last meeting, the Ministerial Council approved a proposal for the creation of desalination units by hotel units,” he added.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Michalis Polynikis, said that water from Greece should ease the capital’s situation. “It’s a done deal; water from Greece is expected at the end of June. People will suffer this summer unless alternative means are found to supply water to the capital, the water transport from Greece is expected to assuage the water woes.”
Polynikis said the ministry was in constant contact with Water Boards, municipalities and communities and making efforts to solve any problems that arise.
The current penalty for wasting water is a fine of €51, based on a law passed by the House of Representatives in 1991, and can be levied if someone is caught using a hose to wash the pavement or the car. It does not apply to those who have private boreholes.
