Our goal is, through specific actions, to achieve water security in our country, Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, said Monday at the inauguration ceremony of “Cleo” and “Erato”, two GLS-type water tanks of the Nicosia District Local Government Organisation, with a total capacity of 17,200 cubic meters.

Referring to the implementation of water projects for the period 2024-2030 exceeding 200 million euros, President Christodoulides also pointed out the need to develop water awareness, noting that water consumption in Cyprus is one of the highest among EU member states, with some areas exceeding 500 liters per person per day.

Present at the ceremony was Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou.

In his speech, President Christodoulides noted that this project was of “decisive strategic importance” for Nicosia, noting that now, the capital city’s water sufficiency “increases substantially, covering needs for more than 36 hours even in the event of a water supply interruption”.

According to President Christodoulides, the two reservoirs “significantly enhance the ability to store and safely supply water to an area with very increased needs”.

He noted that Cyprus, as an island state, “is located in one of the most affected regions of the planet in terms of the impacts of the climate crisis.” He said that scientific studies, “have shown that our region is recording an increase in average temperature at a faster rate than the global average, while since the mid-1990s there has been a steady decrease in average annual rainfall in our country, between 10% and 15% compared to the 20th century.”

“Periods of drought are more frequent,” he said, noting that the 2024-2025 water year is among the driest for Cyprus since 1902. Based on these “negative data”, he added, water management is high on the Government’s priorities, while water security has been included in the main priorities of Cyprus’ EU Presidency.

“Our goal is, through specific actions, to achieve water security in our country,” he said. “First, by increasing the available quantity of water through unconventional sources. Second, the improvement and expansion of storage and transportation infrastructure. And third, the reduction of demand,” he added.

In relation to the increase in the available quantities of water through unconventional sources, he said the Government is mainly investing in mobile and small desalination plants.

“With the completion of these projects, we estimate that approximately 80% of water supply needs will be covered with desalinated water, with the help, and I want to thank them publicly, of the United Arab Emirates, with whom we are in dialogue,” he said. Soon, he added, the Minister of Agriculture, together with other Ministers, would travel to there “to continue this cooperation in relation to the water security goal”.

President Christodoulides also said that for the 2024-2030 period, they are proceeding with the implementation of water projects amounting to over 200 million euros. “This is the largest investment ever made in this sector, with the aim of reducing losses,” the maintenance and modernisation of the network, he said, noting that in some areas 40% water loss is recorded.

The third pillar is water awareness, he said. According to President Christodoulides, water consumption in Cyprus “is one of the highest in Europe among all the member states of the European Union with some areas, exceeding 500 liters per person per day”. A rate that is particularly high and cannot be justified, he noted.

He noted that, consumption, in addition to the other problems it creates, has direct impact on the primary sector, “on our farmers, and within this framework we all have an obligation”, referring to the goal for a 10% reduction in water consumption.

President of the Nicosia District Local Government Organisation, Constantinos Yiorkadjis, in his speech, said the “Cleo” and “Erato” water reservoirs were a “strategic infrastructure” critical to water security. He emphasised that amid climate change, prolonged drought, and rising demand, the creation of water reserves and the reduction of network losses were an obligation, not a choice. The organisation’s objective, he said, is clear: no community, household, school, or business should be deprived of access to water. Projects such as Cleo and Erato aim to ensure the adequacy, stability, and quality of water supply, he said, adding that a holistic network management, the integration of suburban areas with the urban network, and strengthened infrastructure, was a priority.

He also thanked President Christodoulides for his intervention regarding the Mia Milia Wastewater Treatment Plant, ensuring its operation until 2032, and noted the UN-announced tender for sewage and treated water pipelines.

The two reservoirs, with a total capacity of 17,200 cubic meters, use innovative glass-lined steel technology, offering durability, flexibility, low maintenance, and thermal insulation. The €2.13 million project was financed by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Source: Parikiaki.com