Paphos, Cyprus. Discussions are underway with the agriculture ministry on expanding the Kouklia desalination plant and installing a mobile desalination unit in Polis Chrysochous, Paphos district governor Charalambos Pittokopitis said on Tuesday.
Kouklia expansion plans
Pittokopitis said the Kouklia desalination plant is being considered for a capacity increase of up to 30,000m³, with a goal for the unit to reach a production of 25,000 to 30,000m³ per day by the summer. He said this quantity is considered necessary to allow for a sufficient water supply in Kato Paphos.
He said recent rains do not solve the problem but provide optimism and time, which he described as vital for the local district government (EOA) and the state to take further steps to ease ongoing water scarcity “in a more organised way.”
Pittokopitis said the expansion would be a political decision, adding that the EOA had been informed by the contractor that the infrastructure for the expansion is already in place. He said that once a decision is made, it would take another five to six months for additional water quantities to become available.
“If the decision is taken now, in January, then in the middle of the summer we will have at our disposal the necessary quantities of water that the Paphos region needs,” he said.
Mobile desalination unit in Polis Chrysochous
Pittokopitis said work is underway to identify a suitable site in Polis Chrysochous for a mobile desalination unit. The plant is set to produce 10,000m³ and is intended to provide flexibility in case of a surge in demand.
He said that combined with the Kouklia expansion, the mobile unit is expected to significantly increase water security in the region.
Impact on farming and water cuts
Pittokopitis said the projects would free up water currently used for general consumption for use by farmers. He said that given the effects of water cuts in the region, which had been primarily imposed on farmers, boosting desalination projects could provide a “breathing space for agriculture.”
What do you think should be prioritised to reduce the impact of water shortages in the Paphos region?