LAST month was the driest November in eight years averaging only 19mm of rainfall, according to the latest met office figures.

Expected rainfall for November normally stands at 53.3mm. The alarming figure hammers home yet again that Cyprus cannot rely on rainfall alone to replenish its depleted water supplies, nor fill its reservoirs.

Present storage is at its lowest level ever, standing at just 8.8 million cubic metres, or 3.2 per cent of full capacity (273.6 million cubic metres).

Not one drop of November’s rain reached the reservoirs, since the average rainfall was only 36 per cent of normal. Most of the scarce rainfall occurred in the areas of Prodromos, Kornos, Platania and Frenaros. Traditionally, November and December record the most significant rainfall and water flow into the reservoirs. All hope now lies on December.

The figures are frightening especially in the light of the latest report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on Europe’s changing climate, which predicts the desertification of Cyprus.

While parts of northern Europe and Greece will be susceptible to floods, Cyprus will experience more frequent and longer-lasting droughts, reduced groundwater and an increasing sea level, which will make quality drinking water hard to find.

With more heat waves and changing weather conditions forecast, agricultural production and tourism are in serious danger, the Commissioner for the Environment Charalambos Theopemptou told reporters last week.

He highlighted that eight of the 12 years between 1996 and 2007 were among the 12 hottest years since 1850.

Better water management is one obvious solution to our water crisis, as is alternative means of water production. Yet so far, Cyprus has only seriously considered desalination. It’s a costly measure, financially and environmentally.