Limassol, Cyprus. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said the government will bolster Cyprus’ desalination capacity as the island faces an ongoing water shortage. Two new mobile desalination units are set to be installed in February and March in Limassol.
New mobile units to be installed in Limassol
Panayiotou said the two new mobile desalination units will be placed in Limassol, with one located near the Garyllis river and the other near the city’s port.
Total desalination units to reach nine
She said the two new units will bring the total number of desalination units operational on the island to nine. Five units are permanent, located in Paphos, the Limassol district village of Episkopi, Vasiliko, Larnaca and Dhekelia. Four units are mobile, located in the Paphos district village of Kissonerga, the Limassol district village of Moni, and the two new units in Limassol.
Panayiotou said the nine units will produce 282,000 cubic metres of water per day and cover 80 per cent of Cyprus’ water supply needs.
Tenders issued for three additional mobile units
She said tenders have been put out for the installation of three more mobile desalination units with a combined capacity of 30,000 cubic metres of water per day. The units are to be placed in Episkopi, Ayia Napa and Vasiliko.
Mazotos desalination project to proceed
Panayiotou referred to the planned desalination unit in the Larnaca district village of Mazotos, saying the water development department is moving forward with the project despite the village council calling for it to be suspended immediately. She said the unit will produce 20,000 cubic metres of water per day.
Golf courses in Paphos given deadline to stop using mains water
Panayiotou said additional measures are being taken to prevent a potential crisis in Cyprus’ water supply, including a timetable for golf course owners in Paphos to stop using mains water to water their greens.
After contacts with golf course owners, she said they have been given a specific timetable to proceed with the necessary infrastructure to end their use of water from the Paphos irrigation system before the summer.
How do you think the planned desalination expansions will affect Cyprus’ water supply in the coming summer?