Yiorkadjis calls for independent national water authority

Nicosia, Cyprus. Nicosia district local government organisation (EOA) chief Constantinos Yiorkadjis has called for the creation of a financially and administratively independent authority to manage water resources nationwide.

He said the proposed authority should oversee the full water chain, including supply, sanitation, irrigation, resource management, consumer pricing and future infrastructure investment.

Drainage network and repair works

Yiorkadjis told the Cyprus News Agency that recent bad weather highlighted the absence of a unified rainwater pipe network. Before local government reform, individual municipalities were responsible for maintaining their own networks.

Repair and reinforcement works on the culvert in Digenis Akritas, between Vasilopotamos and Kotsirkas, are scheduled to begin next month at a cost of €2.3 million.

A separate study on stormwater drains between Lakatamia and Strovolos, near the Apoel stadium, is progressing, with construction expected to begin early next year.

Emergency cooperation

Following the August storms, the EOA identified a number of problem areas in Engomi and is updating existing studies while commissioning a new, more comprehensive assessment.

Yiorkadjis said discussions are under way with all municipalities in Nicosia district to formalise cooperation agreements on the use of machinery and pumping equipment during emergencies.

He added that a minimum fee of €0.05 per thousand has been introduced for rainwater pipes, generating about €2 million annually for maintenance and repair work.

Water supply strategy

Yiorkadjis welcomed government plans for three new desalination units but said increasing water production alone would not be sufficient.

He called for a broader strategy, noting that significant quantities of rainwater are lost to the sea or underground each year.