Cyprus
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Highlights
Experience and Lessons
- Contributions to Water Knowledge Fair 2006
- Cyprus - Management and Assessment of the Ecology of Cyprus’ Artificial Wetlands (MACAW)
Overview of Water Resources
Country Water Profile
There are 14 main rivers, none of which provides perennial flow. The source of water for these rivers originates in the Troodos mountains. The main groundwater aquifers are the Western Mesaoria (Morphou), Kokkinochoria (South-eastern and Eastern Mesaoria) and the Akrotiri. Smaller aquifers exist in other parts of the country.
At present, almost all the renewable water resources in Cyprus are utilized and, in a number of areas, groundwater is rapidly depleting with sea water intrusion occurring in the main coastal aquifers. There is no accurate estimate of the quantity of water extracted in excess of natural recharge, but it could be as high as 40 million cubic metres per year. Even so, in years of drought or below-average rainfall, it is necessary to divert water from agriculture to the domestic and industrial sectors.
The trend in recent years, which is likely to continue in the future, is that increasing quantities of water will be used for domestic water supplies at the expense of agriculture. This has been necessary in view of industrialization, an increasing standard of living, and the expansion of tourist services.
Water provision in Cyprus dates back to Roman times when water was distributed through clay pipes. The water distribution system of course is modern and the coverage of water supply is 100 percent in both urban and rural areas; however significant water losses happen through leakage. Cyprus's water supply is both inadequate and irregular. The average rainfall of 500 mm, mostly in the winter, left the island quite dry much of the rest of the time because no rivers flowed year round. During the colonial period, a dam and reservoir construction program was begun, and by independence Cyprus had sixteen dams with a storage capacity of six million cubic meters, or 1 percent of the island's estimated 600 million cubic meters of usable runoff from annual rainfall.
After independence a number of large projects were mounted to increase reservoir storage capacity, which reached 300 million cubic meters by 1990. The most important of these projects, and the largest development project in Cyprus since independence, was the Southern Conveyor Project, which collected surplus water from the southwestern part of the island and conveyed it by a 110-kilometer long water carrier to the central and eastern areas. When the project reached completion in 1993, it, and a number of other large projects, would guarantee farmers and the inhabitants of Nicosia and other towns adequate amounts of water into the next century. See http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/aglw/aquastat/countries/cyprus/index.stm for more info
Water in the Economy of Cyprus
Spring water and groundwater were the first targets of water resources development. Traditionally, this water was cheap and easy to develop by individual farmers or farmers' Irrigation Divisions or Associations. In the former case the farmers develop the springs on an individual basis, while in the latter case water resources are developed by a group of farmers who are then eligible for a government subsidy for the capital expenditure. In both cases a government permit is required prior to initiating any water work. Normally these schemes are small and they cover 1 to 3 hectares, although larger schemes also have been developed in recent years.
After independence in 1961, and following the full utilization of groundwater resources, emphasis was placed on collecting and storing surface water during the winter and utilizing it throughout the year. In 1994, a little less than half the area was irrigated from surface water.
Water Management
Many of the water laws in Cyprus are concerned with irrigation. They precede independence in 1961, and include the Government Water Works Law, which provides for the control of water and the construction of water works by the government. The Wells Law covers the installation of wells and their related water rights; the law on Irrigation Divisions regulates the formation of Irrigation Divisions and their operation. The Laws, in general, function effectively and, in the case of the Water Laws, cover all aspects of water development as well as interactions between the government and users. All land in Cyprus is registered and owners have deeds or certificates of ownership.
An integral components of the government's policy in water resources management will be the improvement of the water delivery system in the hilly areas, and further overall water savings through increasing the price of irrigation water.
Fact and Figures
- Total Available Renewable Water Resources [1] -- 0.8 km2/yr (2,726 L/day/cap)
- Renewed as:
- - Surface water produced internally -- 0.6 km3/yr (72%)
- - Groundwater recharge -- 0.42 km3/yr (53%)
- - Incoming waters -- 0%
Used by man -- 0.25 km3/yr (31%)
Rainfall -- 500 mm/year
- Water Usage [2] -- 0.25 km3/yr (100%)
- By Sector:
- - Agriculture -- 0.21 km3/yr (83%)
- - Industry -- 0
- - Domestic -- 0.04 km3/yr (17%)
UNDP Cyprus Management of Water Resources
Through two large-scale projects, the "Survey of Groundwater and Mineral Resources in Cyprus" (1962-1969) and "Surveys, Demonstration and Planning of Water Resource Utilization" (1966-1973), a masterplan was formulated for the management of the island's water resources. As a result, other related fields of cooperation were identified and at the end of the surveys, the Geological Survey Department and the Water Development Department had grown into strong technical organizations, fully equipped to undertake further studies on their own.
The Paphos Irrigation Project with UNDP technical assistance and a World Bank loan of $14 million provided sprinkler irrigation to some 5,000 hectares of farmland, raising the income of 3,500 farm families.
The Khrysokhou Watershed Irrigation Project (FAO/UNDP/Government) provided for feasibility and engineering design studies from 1979 to 1982. Construction began in January 1984 with the World Bank financing $16 million of the $49 million cost.
Under the Vassilikos - Pendaskinos Project construction of the dams was completed in 1985. This project increased the irrigated area in the Larnaca region and the domestic and industrial water supply of three cities.
The Southern Conveyor Project is the most ambitious water development project ever attempted in Cyprus. It started in 1984, and the first phase was completed in 1989, providing water from 2,600 farm units. About 600,000 consumers also benefited from increased water supply. For the first phase, loans with a total value of $61 million were secured, of which $27 million was provided by the World Bank, $10 million by the Kuwait Fund and $24 million by the European Investment Fund. For the second phase, loans of $42.5 million were secured. UNDP continued to provide consultancy services in strengthening the capacity of the project management in terms of tender evaluation, contract award, supervision of consultants etc. For more info see http://www.un.int/cyprus/undp.htm
Projects
UNDP-Projects
National:
1- MACAW Project: As part of World Environment Day Celebrations, UNDP-ACT is supporting a short-term project entitled "Management and Assessment of the ecology of Cyprus’ Artificial Wetlands" (MACAW), led by the Institute of Earth, Ocean, Atmosphere and Environmental Sciences but also involving the University of Liverpool, Birdlife (Cyprus, the Frederick Institute of Technology and the University of Lefke. The objective of the project is to improve the understanding and promote the ecological role of artificial wetlands in a context of increasing pressures on water resources, through the creation of durable inter-communal partnerships for sustainable development between civil society organisations and academic institutions.
2- Ecoforum: As part of celebrations for World Environment Day 2006, UNDP-ACT is participating in the Ecoforum 2006, a bi-communal environmental fair organised in collaboration with Eco-Q. This will involve an exhibition, lectures and workshops. Since this year's theme is 'Deserts and Desertification', half a day of lectures has been allocated to water issues in Cyprus.
Regional:
Others
Reports
Cyprus Country Profile for the Johannesburg Summit 2002
Resources and Links
Contacts
- CoP-Members
- Contacts
External Links
UNDP Action for Cooperation and Trust
Republic of Cyprus Water Development Department
Cyprus page on the website of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
World Environment Day 2006: Don't desert drylands!
Outline recommendations for wetland management in Cyprus
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