Cyprus water reserves fall to 21 percent capacity

Marios Hatzikostis, Senior Technical Engineer at the Water Development Department (WDD), reported that Cyprus's dam reservoirs have reached 21 percent capacity, totaling 61.15 million cubic meters of water. This figure represents a significant decrease compared to the same period last year, when reserves stood at 25.4 percent or 73.8 million cubic meters. Low rainfall in early March has exacerbated the situation, with officials noting that reservoir inflows rely heavily on precipitation in the southwestern Troodos region. Desalination plants currently cover approximately 70 percent of the country's potable water needs. In response to these conditions, the Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the WDD, has launched a campaign titled 'Water for Tomorrow'. The initiative aims to reduce water consumption by 10 percent by 2026, which equates to 10 million cubic meters of savings. WDD officials have already begun conducting educational visits in schools across Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos to promote awareness regarding water management and conservation.