Council looks into feasibility of small station to supple area’s needs
THE MAYOR and municipality of Peyia have given the go-ahead for a study of the area to find a suitable location for a mobile desalination plant.
The population of Peyia has mushroomed in recent years, with new developments and an ever-growing population of expats. This factor along with the water shortage crisis in Cyprus has led the municipality to consider their options.
Desalination removes salt and other particulates from seawater. Through distillation and reverse osmosis, water treatment plants can remove most of the salt and impurities from saline water, providing a clean and potable supply.
One Peyia councillor stands alone in her concerns for this idea.
“I don’t think there is any harm in getting a study done,” local councillor Linda Leblanc told the Cyprus Mail. “But I don’t think the municipality have thought carefully about the seriousness of this decision.”
“This is a very expensive solution to the current water shortage problem, and these costs would be passed onto to residents of Peyia, via higher taxes,” she advised.
Leptos, who own two hotels in the Peyia district, the Thalassa and the Coral Beach, are currently responsible for using 30 per cent of Peyia’s water supply. They have already applied to the government, to gain permits for building separate desalination plants, for specific use by these hotels.
“I am sure they will be granted these permits, as recent amendments to Cyprus law say the government may now give the go-ahead for plants producing up to 1,500 cubic meters of water a day, without having to get permission from local councils.”
“This means there will be 30 per cent more water for Peyia,” she added.
“I think they want this [extra] water to build and develop more areas of Peyia, which I’m not against in principal, but let’s do it right. Take the necessary studies; ensure the infrastructure is in place,” she urged.
“We have a huge drain on water resources for four months of the year during the summer,” she said, “But the running costs of a desalination plant would have to be borne all year round. We couldn’t stop and start it due to the perceivable damage to the membranes.”
Leblanc said a company has already made a presentation to the council, showcasing their proposals for a desalination unit.
A mobile container would be built on the beach, with a pumping station able to produce 1,000 cubic meters per day, which is a modest amount. But it will cost us between €600,000-€800,000 to build, she said.
“We would have additional operational electricity costs on top of this, at around €130,000 per year. Peyia will have to increase taxes to recoup this.”
“I propose a public hearing on the matter, to talk to the people and explain the real and serious implications of such a sizeable project,” she said.
She shared her concerns for the residents pockets. “The law states that we have to charge the consumer the ‘real’ costs of water, as it would not be subsidised.”
“We currently pay about four cents per cubic metre, and the desalination company said it would rise to 65 cents per cubic metre. That is an enormous increase.”
Environment needs to be considered
THE PLANS for a desalination plant are being made before considering the impact on the environment, said Leblanc.
“The water being pumped back out would have approximately 60 per cent salinity. We were advised that the current takes this out to sea and so pollution is minimal.
“But anyone familiar with the west coast of Paphos will tell you, the current flow towards the shore, which is why we have experienced problems with cruise ships dumping in the past.”
There are other issues with the potential to harm the ecosystem, caused to marine environments by desalination.
Leblanc said the existing larger plants in Achelia and Larnaca both have a ‘dead zone’ of a square kilometre. “Even though ours would be much smaller the problem would still exist. And a dead zone is just that.”
Environment commissioner for Cyprus Charalambous Theopemtous confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that hotels will soon be able to install their own desalination units.
“The government passed a law allowing this last week. In my opinion desalination is not the right way to go.
“This is not something to stop and start; a unit works over a long period of time, and water pumped back into the sea is very salty. This is a disaster for the environment.”
“In addition, these plants are operated by electricity and costs are soaring. The government is expecting to pay €1.37 per 10,000 cubic metres, priced by an international tender. I think costs in Peyia are more likely to be around €2 euros per cubic metre.”
He continued, “The initial set-up cost will be huge and all of these charges, I fear, would be passed onto the citizens of Peyia.
“There is a big difference between what the municipality is allowed to charge, an annual increase of 10 per cent, and the costs. Who will pay the shortfall?”
“I suggest we implement a rainwater collection system and a central sewerage system, which would produce water for use in the agricultural sector. And we must address water loss, there are places in Cyprus recording a loss of 46 per cent,” he said.
“In addition, we should stop using drinking water to fill up swimming pools, which hold enough to supply a person for six to nine months.
“I am also pushing to tax swimming pool owners. And we should stop giving away free water, for example to football grounds,” he concluded.
“Desalination is definitely not the way forward.”
