Current water influx insufficient to replenish reserves

The rainfall of the past three days was being beneficial for local water reserves, however, more rain is needed to ensure that Cyprus is navigating its way out of the drought period, the Water Development Department (WDD) said on Monday.

WDD senior officer Yianna Economidou said that Cyprus’ dams currently hold 34 million cubic metres of water, corresponding to just 11.8 per cent of their total capacity of 335 million cubic metres.

Rainfall over the past three days added 2.4 million cubic metres to the reservoirs, half of which was collected in dams in the Paphos district.

Economiou asserted that further substantial precipitation was needed to fill up the reservoirs, emphasising that the land must first be thoroughly saturated before the water could reach the dams.

She stressed that rainwater flowing into the sea should not be viewed as a loss, as it replenishes underground aquifers, contributes to the overall water balance and acts as a natural defence against brackish water.

At the same time, Economidou said the WDD has more than €200 million worth of water management projects under way to improve efficiency and assess the expansion of spillways and dams.

The projects include pipeline construction, water treatment facilities and irrigation works.

Economidou explained that dams continue to supply drinking water, while irrigation relies on recycled water and boreholes, which also help offset evaporation during the hot summer months. She added that additional wells are currently being drilled in a joint effort with the geological survey department.

Meanwhile, Senior fisheries department officer Vassilis Papadopoulos emphasised that the volume recorded in recent days appeared sufficient and highly beneficial for the marine ecosystem and coastlines.

Although his department does not measure the volume of rainwater flowing into the sea, he said runoff transports nutrients, helps regulate salinity and supports the natural renewal of marine waters.

The sediment carried by rain includes fine soil particles, clay and organic materials which play a vital role in coastal and marine ecosystems, enriching the water and seabeds with nutrients that feed plankton and support the wider marine ecosystem via the food chain.

It also helps to form and maintain deltas, sandy beaches and wetlands, protecting coastlines from erosion and provides a habitat for organisms on the seabed, supporting the ecological balance of the sea.

Increased freshwater runoff creates favourable conditions for fish species in many coastal and estuary areas, providing shelter, food and suitable habitats.

By transporting sediment and shaping seabeds and habitats, rainfall ultimately enhances biodiversity and stabilises fish populations.