The Council of Ministers has approved tougher legislation to combat water wastage, with fines reaching €3,000 and potential six-month prison sentences for violations.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment’s proposal to amend existing water conservation laws is part of the National Action Plan to address water scarcity, which poses a growing threat to Cyprus due to climate crisis and limited natural resources.
Minister Maria Panayiotou is expected to formally submit the bill to Parliament today and appeal to the House President for immediate committee discussion. The legislation requires parliamentary approval to take effect.
The new Water Conservation (Special Measures) (Amendment) Law of 2025 tightens restrictions on wasteful water use, particularly for washing pavements, roads, balconies, walls, windows, railings, vehicles and boats using hosepipes.
Penalties for wasteful water consumption now include up to six months imprisonment and fines reaching €3,000. The law defines premises as houses, shops, apartment buildings, hotels, factories, laboratories, livestock units or independent parts thereof.
Businesses and industrial units can continue using water for washing with high-pressure cleaning machines or other water-saving systems when proven necessary for professional purposes.
Authority for enforcement transfers from the Interior Ministry to the Agriculture Ministry, with Provincial Self-Government Organisations designated as competent authorities. Non-public officials may be authorised to conduct inspections and issue out-of-court fines.
Out-of-court fines increase from £30 to €100, rising to €300 for repeat offences. For domestic workers, fines transfer to employers. Citizens may submit complaints either anonymously or with identification, which authorities must investigate.
The legislation updates definitions of key terms including “water” to cover both surface and groundwater sources, and establishes procedures for managing complaints whilst protecting individual privacy rights.
Old regulations from 1991 and 1998 governing notification procedures will be abolished as part of streamlining the legal framework.
Cyprus frequently faces water scarcity phenomena, making water wastage not only environmentally but also socially unacceptable, the proposal’s explanatory statement notes.
The bill aims to enhance rational water resource management in Cyprus, where climate conditions and limited water resources create serious supply challenges, particularly during summer months.
