Cypriot households must cut water consumption by 10% as the country enters a water emergency, with dam reserves at just 10% and this winter’s rainfall failing to reverse record-low inflows.
The government approved a €31 million emergency package, the sixth such intervention adding to €168 million already allocated for 2026, as dam inflows hit 8.3 million cubic metres this year—less than half the 18 million cubic metres recorded in the worst year of the past decade.
“The crisis is not theoretical, it is real and immediate,” Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said, warning that the Southern Conduit dams risk running dry before August if conditions persist.
The government will launch an intensive campaign in February urging households and the tourism sector to reduce consumption by 10%.
Panayiotou highlighted cases of households using 500 to 700 litres per person daily, calling such levels abuse rather than consumption during a drought.
“The more water we save today, the more we’ll have this summer,” she said, stressing that avoiding water rationing depends on collective action.
The €6 million demand management programme will distribute free water-saving equipment to households and public buildings, whilst provincial authorities received €1.5 million to replace ageing pipes and detect faults within 12 hours.
Cyprus is racing to expand desalination capacity by 66% through mobile and floating plants. The government approved capacity increases at existing mobile units in Episkopi, Vasilikos and Ayia Napa, a new 40,000 cubic metre per day mobile unit at Mazotos, and the country’s first floating desalination plant at Germasogeia producing 20,000 cubic metres daily.
Once complete, nine mobile units will add 157,000 cubic metres of daily capacity to the 235,000 cubic metres produced by permanent plants. At least two new permanent facilities using renewable energy are planned by 2029.
However, Panayiotou emphasised that infrastructure alone cannot solve the crisis. Annual water demand rises by approximately 5% each year, whilst the relationship between rainfall and runoff means even normal rainfall may not increase dam inflows.
The country faces its fourth consecutive year of drought. Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Agriculture, along with the Deputy Minister of Research, will travel to Abu Dhabi today to discuss water security cooperation with the United Arab Emirates. Panayiotou will meet her counterpart to discuss desalination projects.
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