Water engineers are working to repair the Mavrokolympos dam after its complete drainage, though the timeline for restoration remains unclear, agriculture ministry’s director general Andreas Gregoriou stated.
The unprecedented damage, caused by a ventilation pipe failure, resulted in the loss of 1.3 million cubic metres of water crucial for agriculture in the Paphos region, Gregoriou said.
“Engineers must first clear significant mud deposits around the dam’s safety gate before implementing repairs that will prevent similar failures in the future”, Gregoriou said. He dismissed claims that poor maintenance led to the incident.
The Water Development Department’s technical team is evaluating different repair methods, with a decision expected in the coming days.
The new design will incorporate features to facilitate future maintenance and emergency interventions, according to ministry officials.
“We are developing a solution that will allow for proper dam maintenance and swift response to any future issues”, Gregoriou said, adding that the repairs will include enhanced monitoring capabilities for water department staff.
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