WATER BOARD officials yesterday confirmed that the water situation has improved to the point that reducing water cuts is a feasible option. The issue could be discussed as early as next month.
“It is possible to reduce water cuts,” Kyriakos Kyrou, Senior Water Board Officer told the Cyprus Mail.
“At present we have a quantity of 35.7 million cubic metres of stored water, compared to 29.3 million during the same period last year. That is approximately 6.5 million cubic metres more.
“In addition we now produce 50,000 cubic metres of water per day, which is much more than last year. Some of this water is consumed and some is surplus, which is stored in the Kourris, Yermasoyia and Kalavasos dams,” Kyrou said.
The rainfall over the past few days has also helped revive Cyprus’ dried up streams. “At present we have a base flow at rivers, meaning continuous flow in rivers, which is very encouraging. Today, 500,000 cubic metres of water found its way to the dams,” Kyrou said.
Kyrou said that the decision on reducing water cuts would be taken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, which will also have to take other factors into account, including the water needs of the agricultural sector, as well as environmental considerations.
“We are definitely in a better state in terms of water for consumption, but the Ministry is not just concerned with that water. When it makes such a decision, it must also consider agricultural water, the environment and so on,” he explained.
Kyrou also clarified that although in a better position than last year, the water situation remains tragic. “The situation is better than last year, but our dams are 12.3 per cent full. When that is compared to 2004 when it was almost 100 per cent, you can see that we cannot be satisfied with the present state.”
The discussion on reducing water cuts was initiated by a statement by the Minister of Agriculture Michalis Polynikis, after a meeting with farmers and animal grazers on Tuesday, when he left open the options of reducing water cuts and providing water for agriculture.
“By the end of March we will have a wide meeting with all involved stakeholders to evaluate the water situation and make decisions on the possibility of both reducing water cuts and granting water for agriculture,” Polynikis said.
Polynikis also confirmed that the rainfall of the past few days allows the state to find ways to cover water consumption needs. “Up to the present, the rain allows us to handle timelines in the best way and achieve our goal which is to cover water consumption needs. Until we cover our needs with the planned desalination units at Episkopi and Vasilikos by the EAC, we are studying ways to cover the deficit,” he said.
The Episkopi desalination unit, however, is a project nowhere near starting. “There have been delays after unsuccessful companies who had made bids for the contract took the case to court. We hope that process finishes soon. Our initial aim was to start in 2010, but that may be pushed up a bit. Once we start, construction will take approximately two years,” Kyrou said.
