Cyprus is on the brink of its worst water crisis in 10 years.
According to the Department of Water Resources, the volume of water in reservoirs by October 24 was only 32.2 million cubic meters, which corresponds to 11.1% of the total capacity. A year ago, this figure was three times higher - 76.8 million cubic meters, or 26.4%.
The prolonged drought forced the authorities to introduce emergency measures and warn farmers: without additional sources of water, new crops cannot be planted in 2026. Moreover, the introduction of water rationing for households cannot be ruled out.
The department forecasts that the southern parts of the island - Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta - will experience severe water shortages in 2026, even if all existing desalination plants operate at full capacity. These areas are served by the Southern Water Supply System, and experts are already warning that there may be restrictions on water supply even for domestic needs.
Irrigation water will be used exclusively for livestock and industrial purposes. Paphos province will avoid a shortage of drinking water, but will face severe restrictions on watering to provide the population with the necessary supplies.
If weather conditions do not improve, there will not be enough water for seasonal plantings, greenhouses and frost protection systems. Authorities are also considering reducing water supplies to sports venues, parks and public green spaces. A study is currently underway to assess the impact and response from golf course and football stadium owners.
The Department of Water Resources sent text messages to all farmers with a direct warning not to start new plantings without proven access to water for 2026.
Together with the Ministry of Agriculture, financial support measures are being developed for farmers affected by water restrictions in order to mitigate the socio-economic consequences.
The government is implementing the “Action Plan to Combat Water Scarcity” approved by the Council of Ministers. Currently, the island has five permanent desalination plants with a total capacity of 235,000 cubic meters of water per day, which supply more than 70% of the needs of large cities and tourist areas.
These plants are located in Dhekelia (60,000 cubic meters per day), Larnaca (60,000), Vasiliko Power Station (60,000), Episkopi (40,000) and Paphos (15,000).
In addition, the authorities are installing mobile desalination plants, which will begin operation before the summer of 2026. In Kissonerga, the existing installation with a capacity of 12,000 cubic meters per day is being expanded: a module with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters is currently operating, and another 5,000 will be added by the end of October, and another 5,000 by the end of November.
A 15,000 cubic meter unit is operational at the Moni power station, with new modules planned for Limassol - 10,000 cubic meters at the Garillis River (December 2025) and 10,000 at the port of Limassol (January 2026).
By the summer of 2026, additional mobile units with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per day will appear in Limassol, Larnaca and Famagusta. Tenders have already been launched for equipment in Episkopi, Vasiliko and Ayia Napa (10,000 cubic meters each).
Two new permanent desalination plants are planned for construction - in the east of Limassol (with a capacity of 60,000–80,000 cubic meters per day) and in Dhekelia, where the current plant will be replaced by a new capacity of 80,000–100,000 cubic meters.
In addition, in 2025, research has begun on the possibility of permanently using mobile installations and expanding their productivity.
Under a simplified procedure approved in March 2025, hotels, municipalities and utilities were allowed to install their own small desalination plants with a capacity of up to 1,500 cubic meters per day. The program provides grants totaling €3 million, applications are open until September 30, 2026. At the moment, 13 applications from hotels have been submitted, of which 7 have already been approved.
The department is implementing leakage reduction projects together with municipalities and water boards, funded by €10.5 million from the THALEIA 2021-2027 program. The funds are distributed as follows: Famagusta - €2.32 million, Larnaca - €2.62 million, Limassol - €1.90 million, Nicosia - €1.83 million and Paphos - €1.90 million.
13 local projects worth €640,000 were approved, and funds were also allocated to transport water by tanker truck to areas experiencing acute shortages. A total of 43 applications were received for funding initiatives to reduce water loss.
In July 2025, a contract was signed with EY Cyprus for a 24-month project aimed at creating a national strategy to reduce water leakage and bring Cyprus networks into compliance with EU drinking water quality directives. The project is funded by the European Commission through a technical assistance instrument. It will include an assessment of leakages in water supply networks, the preparation of national and local management plans, and training programs for specialists.
To mitigate the effects of drought, the department is implementing urgent infrastructure projects in affected communities. 31 projects have been completed or are in progress in Nicosia, 18 in Limassol, 9 in Paphos, 6 in Larnaca and 1 in Famagusta. The work includes replacing old pipes, repairing reservoirs and water towers, and commissioning new wells.
The Geological Survey has drilled 13 successful wells, and the Department of Water Resources has completed 23 well projects and is conducting research on 11 new sites.
Cyprus enters 2026 with a critical water shortage and hopes for early rains. However, the authorities claim that they are taking all possible steps to ensure that the island does not “dry up” - and that water remains not only in bottles, but also in taps.
Source: in-cyprus.philenews.com
