Water supply cuts to Cypriot consumers are not inevitable despite a 10% reduction in flow to District Local Government Organisations (EOAs), the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment said — provided the reduction is managed properly.
“People will not be deprived of water and cuts may not be needed,” Andreas Gregoriou said, adding that the Ministry believes cuts will not occur if demand is contained.
The decision in question reduces the flow supplied to EOA networks by 10% — it does not amount to direct interruptions to consumers.
EOAs have been asked to contain demand, and meetings between Water Development Department officials and EOA representatives are already under way to determine how the 10% flow reduction will be implemented without affecting consumers.
The EOAs “have already started working” in this direction, Gregoriou said. The Ministry will also launch a public awareness campaign.
Dhekelia desalination unit to stop for three days
A separate but related issue concerns a temporary reduction in desalination supply. Gregoriou clarified this is not a production problem — desalination units operate around the clock — but that the contractor carries out periodic maintenance.
One of the largest units at Dhekelia will be taken offline for three days for scheduled maintenance.
The relevant department informed the EOA in good time, Gregoriou said, and steps have been taken to increase flow from filtration plants and dams to compensate. The maintenance window was chosen because demand is currently lower, mainly in the tourist areas of the Famagusta district. “People will not notice,” he said.
2026 outlook
For 2026, approximately 104 million cubic metres of water have been allocated for water supply purposes — a figure that corresponds to actual consumption in 2024.
Demand, however, is growing at around 4-5% annually, meaning the 10% reduction in supply to EOAs will require active management.
EOAs have been asked to implement demand containment measures to ensure the reduction does not affect consumers.
(information from CNA)
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