Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus could face water cuts during the summer as reserves remain low and demand continues to grow, agriculture ministry permanent secretary Andreas Gregoriou said on Wednesday.
Risk of summer cuts and supply outlook
Gregoriou said the possibility of water cuts during the summer is real. He said cutting water every other day, as press reports suggested, did “not seem reasonable”, adding that he was not an expert and could not say for sure.
He said that in 2026 authorities would give less water than in 2025, but the same allocation as in 2024. He said demand this year meant available supplies were 10 per cent lower than actual needs.
Team formed to manage reserves
Speaking on Trito, Gregoriou said a team had been set up with the participation of the water development department and district self-government organisations (EOA) to manage available reserves in the best possible manner and avoid protracted water cuts.
He said the team “will discuss and find solutions on how to implement the decision” to provide less water during the summer.
Call to change water use
“We are facing a very difficult year. Such a situation has never arisen before. Despite all the efforts made over the past years with the desalination units and at other levels to restrict the loss of water […] we cannot continue using water the same way at home and at work,” he said.
He added that efforts were being made to avoid long water cuts during the summer.
Environmental fee and borehole regulation
Gregoriou defended the environmental fee on water, saying it was first imposed gradually in 2020 with priority given to big consumers. He said there are ways to control fees and regulate their payment in instalments.
As an example, he said golf courses using large amounts of recycled water were paying a higher fee of 29 cents per tonne.
He also said mistakes were made in implementing the regulation for private boreholes and that the issue would be investigated.
What steps are you taking to reduce water use at home and at work this summer?