Water reservoirs remain in a critical state despite the weekend’s orange weather warning and flooding.
Recent storms not only failed to increase reservoir levels but led to a further decrease of more than 200,000 cubic metres over the past three days, with water demand at least double the inflow rate.
Sources indicate the weekend rainfall only served to “quench the earth’s thirst” without benefiting the reservoirs, as precipitation was mainly concentrated in coastal areas. Experts emphasise that beneficial rainfall needs to occur in mountainous regions, with sufficient duration and volume to activate streams and rivers.
While hope remains with the key hydrological months of December, January, and February ahead, the current situation is particularly challenging for farmers and agriculture, with even desalination plant output failing to meet irrigation needs.
According to the Water Development Department, following October’s complete drought, stored water levels have plummeted to less than half capacity, reaching levels not seen for many years. The reservoirs currently hold just 73.6 million cubic metres of their 290 million cubic metre capacity, operating at 25.3% compared to 47.1% during the same period last year.
Key reservoir levels:
- Vyzakia: 4.4% (down from 45.6% last year)
- Achna: 9.6% (down from 26%)
- Kalopanayiotis: 10.2% (down from 51%)
- Argaka: 13.2% (down from 16.3%)
- Xyliatos: 13.8% (down from 48.6%)
The Lefkara reservoir shows better levels at 48.1%, though it serves as an emergency reservoir. All other dams are below 32% capacity, with Kouris, Cyprus’s largest reservoir, at just 22.8% compared to 42.9% last year.
Regional reservoir systems:
- Southern Conveyor: 24% (down from 43.8%)
- Paphos: 30.2% (down from 55.2%)
- Chrysochou: 23.3% (down from 49%)
- Nicosia: 8.9% (down from 47.4%)
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