Cyprus reservoir water levels increase significantly following heavy rainfall

As of May 4, the water storage in Cyprus reservoirs reached 39.6% capacity, compared to 23% during the same period last year. Total stored volume is approximately 115.2 million cubic meters, a notable increase from the 66.7 million recorded in 2025. Marios Hatzikostis of the Water Development Department noted that several small dams are overflowing, though these account for only about 6% of total capacity. While the Paphos region reports 43.5% capacity, large reservoirs remain significantly below full levels. Kitas Weather reports an unusual trend of continued water inflow, which typically ceases by mid-January. Despite the improvement, officials state that 60% of reservoir capacity remains empty and that the water crisis is not fully resolved. Government authorities have implemented conservation plans for 2027 and 2028, prioritizing perennial crops and livestock in agriculture. Data shows a failure to meet the cabinet-mandated 10% consumption reduction, with water usage rising in Paphos by 15.8% and in Limassol by 7.8%, while decreasing slightly in Nicosia, Larnaca, and Famagusta. Experts continue to stress the necessity of rational water use and infrastructure modernization to address leaks.