Water reserves on the island are significantly lower than last year. The first reason is drought, and the second is cases of irrational use of water resources, which are recorded regularly.
The Department of Water Resources has released up-to-date information on the fullness of reservoirs. So, in August of this year the water level is significantly lower than half.
The total maximum volume of reservoirs in Cyprus is 290 million cubic meters. At the moment, water reserves amount to 98.7 million cubic meters. The filling level is 34%, and last year at the same time it reached 57.3%: there was 67.7 million cubic meters more water.
At many dams, the water dropped even to 10-15%. Cyprus's largest reservoir, Kouris, now holds 35.3 million cubic meters of water out of a possible 115 million. That is, the occupancy level is 30.7%, while last August it was 53.1%.
The dramatic nature of the situation is also visible in the following reservoirs. Kalopanagiotis – 10.5% now, 57.6% last year. Argaka – 14.6% now, 54.6% last year. Visachia - 16.3% now, 64.1% last year.
The village of Lefkara has the most water in the dam – 59.5%. However, this reservoir is used for emergencies. The next three places are occupied by Kannawi (42.5%), Pomos (40.8%) and Asprokremmos (40.1%). The remaining reservoirs are even scarcer.
Of all the regions of Cyprus, Paphos has the largest percentage of water reserves - 40.2%. However, in terms of the number of cubic meters, the reservoirs on the southern side, Limassol and Larnaca, have a larger volume, and with a fullness of 31.4%, they are the main source of water.
At the same time, scandals constantly occur due to the irrational use of water. Thus, in Paphos this year, 400,000 cubic meters of recycled water were used to irrigate golf courses, while farmers are regularly cut off the water needed for trees and vegetables.
Last week there was a major leak of recycled water from an irrigation system on one of the beaches in Limassol. And in the Larnaca region, 600 cases of water leakage were detected in July.
We remind you that the common practice of watering your veranda, garage, or sidewalk with a hose in the summer has been strictly prohibited for many years and is punishable by a fine.
The text was prepared based on materials from “Philelefteros”
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The Larnaca Water Department has published a list of measures to save water during periods of drought. These tips may soon be useful to all residents of Cyprus - open the link.
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