Reservoirs at only 50% of capacity, Nicosia area only 30%

The island’s reservoirs are only at just over 50 per cent capacity due to the dearth of rainfall for this time of the year, it was reported on Sunday.

The stored amount stands at 50.1 per cent or 145.5 million cubic metres on November 5, compared with 220.9 million cubic metres, or 76 per cent of capacity this time last year.

All of Cyprus’ reservoirs combined have a total capacity to store 290.8 million cubic metres.

According to the data, Kouris, the largest dam in Cyprus, has stored 59.2 million cubic metres, or 51.5 per cent of its capacity, compared with 81.3 per cent at the beginning of November 2020.

The reservoirs connected to the Southern Pipeline – Kouris, Kalavasos, Lefkara, Dipotamos, Germasogeia, Arminou, Polemidia and Achna, have stored 89.3 million cubic metres, or 47 per cent of capacity compared with 75 per cent this time last year.

Paphos three reservoirs, Asprokremmos, Kannaviou and Mavrokolympos, have stored 42.4 million cubic metres and are at 59 per cent capacity, while those in the Chrysochous area – Evretou, Argaka, Pomos and Ayia Marina are at 48.7 per cent capacity.

The lowest percentage of stored capacity on November 5 is in the Nicosia at Vyzakia, Xyliatos and Kalopanayiotis with a total of 1.1 million cubic metres or 30.3 per cent. The capacity of these reservoirs is 3.4 million cubic metres. In November last year these reservoirs were 50 per cent full.

Inflow to dams was only 36 million cubic metres in the winter of 2020-2021 compared with 139 million the previous winter – 2019-2020 – and 265 million the winter before that, 2018-2019.

According to CNA, total water demand in Cyprus in 2020 was 266 million cubic metres, of which 221 million cubic metres were covered by rainfall and 52 million coming from desalinated and recycled water.