The ongoing drought and impending water crisis in Cyprus this summer will be a key topic for Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou during her upcoming meeting with counterparts in Brussels.
The World Resources Institute’s risk atlas ranks Cyprus among the highest in Europe for severe water stress, alongside parts of Greece, Italy, Albania, Serbia, and Spain.
This hydrological year, water levels in Cyprus’ dams and reservoirs have plummeted, currently at 43 percent capacity compared to 66.3 percent last year. The island’s dams can hold up to 290 million cubic metres of water.
Several reservoirs have dropped below 30 percent capacity, raising concerns about the island’s largest dam, Kouris, which is also approaching the one-third full mark.
In response, the government has taken local measures, such as prioritizing infrastructure repairs to reduce water loss from leaks and constructing a new desalination plant in Moni, Limassol.
In April, the water development department unveiled a national investment plan with a budget of €1.17 billion for 93 projects. Of these, 33 are top priority and already under construction.
Cyprus depends heavily on seawater desalination for its drinking water, with five large plants in operation in Dhekelia, Larnaca, Vasilikos, Episkopi, and Paphos, along with 24 smaller plants. However, experts have warned that the broad impacts of these plants, including greenhouse gas emissions and increased water salinity, are not well understood.
Minister Panayiotou will highlight the adverse effects of reduced rainfall on agriculture, livestock farming, and the environment, as well as the heightened risk of fires due to increased dryness. She will seek measures from the European Commission to safeguard food production and environmental protection.
