Cyprus launches national water conservation campaign as reservoir levels decline

The Cypriot government has initiated the 'Water for Tomorrow' campaign to address a critical decline in reservoir levels, which currently stand at approximately 21% of total capacity. Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment in collaboration with the Water Development Department and the Ministry of Education, the initiative seeks a 10% reduction in per capita water consumption by 2026. This would lower average daily usage from 140 litres to 125 litres per person, saving an estimated 10 million cubic metres of water annually. The campaign includes educational outreach in schools across Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos, as well as the release of documentaries regarding water usage in the tourism and golf industries. The Kouris dam, the island's largest, is a focal point of the effort, currently holding 22 million cubic metres and functioning at roughly 19% capacity. These measures respond to 2025 being recorded as the eighth driest year since 1901, with average annual rainfall declining by 10% since the mid-1990s. The campaign utilizes digital tools such as the 'Stagono-metro' app to track personal consumption.