After a technical breakdown at the Larnaca desalination plant, the water management authority warns of possible restrictions in the water supply in several regions of the island. Nicosia, Larnaca and parts of the Famagusta district are particularly affected.

The disruption occurred last weekend and led to temporarily lower quantities of drinking water being delivered to the communities. According to the Water Development Department (WDD), repair work is in full swing. The complete reconnection of the plant to the supply network is expected in the course of the day.

Until the problem is finally resolved, the supply of the affected areas via alternative plants will be ensured. These include the water treatment plants in Tersefanou and Kornos as well as the desalination plant in Dhekelia. According to the authorities, another technical problem in Vasiliko's plant has already been quickly solved in cooperation with the power plant.

Despite the current disruptions, there have been no acute bottlenecks so far. This is made possible above all by expanded storage reserves. Currently, around 87,750 cubic meters of water are available for Nicosia, about 22,000 cubic meters for Larnaca and 15,000 cubic meters for Paralimni and Ayia Napa.

In the capital, the recently commissioned Klio and Erato storage facilities also contribute to security of supply. With a total capacity of 17,200 cubic meters, they could cover the demand for more than 36 hours in the event of a complete power failure. Larnaca is also better equipped: The new plant in Klavdia has significantly increased storage capacity. An additional tank with 12,000 cubic metres enables an uninterrupted supply of up to 48 hours in the winter months.

Nevertheless, the water authority calls on the population to use it sparingly. Consumers and local suppliers are urged to reduce water consumption to the bare minimum until the system is fully stable again.

The incident exacerbates the already growing concerns about water security in Cyprus. The island is heading for another year of stretched reserves. Municipalities have been warning for some time that around ten percent less water is expected to be available than is actually needed. This increases dependence on desalination plants – and at the same time the susceptibility to technical malfunctions.

The WDD emphasized that lower water availability does not automatically have to lead to restrictions for households. At present, neither temporary shutdowns nor fixed supply plans are planned. At the same time, the authorities admit that the room for manoeuvre is getting smaller and smaller, as the water levels in the reservoirs remain low throughout the country.

The Ministry of Agriculture had previously classified the situation as "very difficult" and pointed out that consumption habits would have to change both in the private and professional environment. At the same time, the government is preparing higher, explicitly dissuasive fees for excessive water consumption in order to dampen demand, especially during peak periods.

In conclusion, the water authority stated that it was aware of the inconvenience and thanked the population for their patience and cooperation. Emergency services and contracted companies worked at full speed to fully restore the normal water supply as quickly as possible.