Cyprus reservoir storage more than doubles from last year

Nicosia, Cyprus. Water stored in Cyprus reservoirs has more than doubled compared with the same period last year, according to Water Development Department figures released on Monday. Total reserves stand at 111 million cubic metres, or 38.2 per cent of capacity.

Reservoir levels

At the same time last year, reservoirs held 43.9 million cubic metres of water, equal to 15.1 per cent of total capacity.

Seventeen of the island’s 18 reservoirs contain more water than a year ago. The reservoir at Achna is the only exception.

Major dams

Kouris, the island’s largest dam, holds 45.3 million cubic metres and is 39.4 per cent full. Its current water volume is triple that recorded at the same time last year.

Kouris forms part of the Southern Conveyor, which was built in phases from the 1980s. The system collects surplus water from the southwest and transfers it eastward through pipelines to supply major towns, industrial centres and agricultural irrigation in Limassol, Larnaca and Famagusta.

The Southern Conveyor dams are collectively 35.7 per cent full.

Paphos and Nicosia districts

Asprokremmos dam in the Paphos district, the second-largest reservoir, holds 20 million cubic metres of water and is 38.4 per cent full.

Reservoirs across the Paphos district are 28.9 per cent full, compared with 10.1 per cent a year earlier.

The Kalopanayiotis reservoir in the Nicosia district has the highest fill level at 99.4 per cent. Its capacity, however, is 0.3 million cubic metres.