Cyprus is facing a serious water crisis as it heads into its fourth year of drought. Water levels in dams are down to about 10%. Even though this winter seemed wet, the actual data shows a big drop in water inflows.
The government is taking action with a €31 million plan, adding to the existing €168 million plan for 2026. Agriculture Minister Maria Panagiotou stressed that the crisis is ‘real and immediate,’ requiring a 10% cut in water use across the board.
Desalination is key to the plan. There will be more capacity from existing mobile units, a new unit in Mazotos, and for the first time, a floating unit in Yermasoyia. Once finished, total water production will increase by 66%, with at least two new permanent units expected by 2029.
Also, an extra state grant of €1.5 million has been approved for urgent network fixes to cut leaks. Another €6 million will go toward water-saving tools and campaigns to reduce overuse, especially in tourism.
The Minister warned that projects alone won’t solve the problem. She noted that some people use 500–700 liters of water daily. ‘The more water we save today, the more we will have in summer,’ she said, stressing that everyone must work together to fight water scarcity and avoid supply cuts.
