Water development department acts to secure summer water supply
A range of measures to secure Cyprus’ water supply this summer and to prevent the need for cuts is being implemented, director of the Water Development Department (WDD), Iliana Tofa told Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Monday.
The department and local district authorities are actively pursuing reducing water consumption by 10 per cent.
This target follows the government’s decision to decrease water flow to the EOA networks by the same percentage.
One initiative involves distributing water-saving nozzles for taps and showers.
Each household will receive an envelope containing four tap nozzles and two shower nozzles.
“If a property has these six fittings, it will see a significant saving in water consumption, contributing both to our strategic goal of using less water and to financial savings for citizens,” she said.
She noted that the nozzles can reduce water use by 30 to 50 percent.
The WDD is also working closely with the five district local government organisations (EOAs) to manage network losses.
“It is a combined approach to all the pillars that ensure out water supply. We want the goals in each pillar to be achieved so that we are in a safe position in the summer, with no cuts,” Tofa explained.
Projects are also underway to ensure there is enough drinking water. The Limassol desalination plant started fully operating this weekend, joining the plants already in Kissonerga and Moni.
But, “it doesn’t mean that just because we have water today, we can give it all or depend on whether it rains. We must manage water wisely and in a targeted way,” she added.
The WDD is planning for sufficiency over the next three years, combining desalination, demand limitation and infrastructure improvements.
Consumer behaviour also plays a vital role.
“Adaptability and resilience are not just about water itself but about us. We must change the way we use water and adapt to the new conditions brought by climate change,” Tofa said.
Public participation in conserving water, she added, is crucial to meeting the 10 per cent reduction target and maintaining a balanced system.
“We have worked to avoid cuts for the last two years. If our projects are implemented and citizens reduce consumption as planned, there will be no need for any cuts,” she said.
Tofa concluded that water cuts remain a last resort.