Nicosia, Cyprus. The water development department denied it plans to intermittently shut off the mains water supply as it responds to an ongoing water shortage. It said no decision has been made to implement a household water-supply schedule.
Department response to water cut concerns
The department issued the clarification after statements that the island will have 10 per cent less water available than projected needs, prompting concerns that intermittent cuts to the mains supply could follow. It said it has no plans to implement “a programme of water cuts to households” or to supply mains water “on specific days or hours”.
“ No decision has been made to implement a water supply schedule ,” it said.
Warnings about potential network damage
Nicosia district government general manager Constantinos Parmaklis said that if the mains water supply were cut, pipes could be damaged and leaks could occur.
“To achieve a real reduction through household cuts, the most likely scenario entails an intermittent water supply, which requires shutting down large sections of the network and reducing the flow to zero, which, when normal supply is restored, creates serious damage and causes leaks ,” he told television channel Alpha.
His comments echoed remarks by former Nicosia water board head Nicos Zambakides.
“Leaks are caused because the system has no pressure, and because of the cuts the water pipes dry up, and when the water valves are turned back on, although the water pressure is minimal, the water gushing through the pipes makes them leak, so we have to be careful with maintaining the pressure when turning the valves on,” he had earlier told the Cyprus Mail.
Ministry official says risk of cuts remains
Earlier this week, agriculture ministry permanent secretary Andreas Gregoriou said the possibility of water cuts is “real”, with the island’s water reserves remaining low.
“ We are facing a very difficult year . We cannot continue using water the same way at home and at work,” he said on Wednesday.
How are you preparing for possible water conservation measures this year?