Peyia – A Case Study in Unsustainability

Last year, an EU funded programme with Peyia as a case study in Sustainable Water Management reported that “although the [Peyia] aquifer is not yet subject to dramatic seawater intrusion, degradation of the water quality due to excessive pumping has been observed in some areas”.

Water specialists from around the Mediterranean area armed with all the data spelled it out that Peyia has a serious problem relating to the availability of future water supplies of decent quality. Senior Cyprus Water Department officials from Nicosia stated categorically that Peyia has a serious water problem. In fact all of the experts agree that Peyia is in trouble regarding water.
Peyia is running out of water. It is as simple and as stark as that.
Frightening prospect? Absolutely. Sense of urgency in Peyia? Absolutely not.
Peyia Councillor Linda Leblanc, however, is deeply concerned about this situation. A Green Party member, she states, “We now find ourselves in the position where, in order to feed the frenzy of unsuitable, unsustainable development over the last decade, the Municipality has depleted and damaged its precious underground water resources and has already been forced to stop pumping from some boreholes due to saltwater intrusion.”
With the drought natural replenishment is reduced, causing great stress on the aquifer. In these circumstances, it is imperative to reduce extraction from underground water. If damage continues, the Peyia aquifer will be destroyed forever. Underground water should be managed sustainably so that future generations can support themselves from this renewable resource.
Leblanc is worried that safeguards are still not in place in Peyia, especially so in light of the fact that the onslaught of mega-building continues. Peyia did not have any water cuts this summer, despite reductions in supplies from the Asprokremmos Dam and despite recommendations that pumping from boreholes be reduced due to drought conditions. In addition, her written request to the Mayor (in June) asking for specific details of the pumping and consumption and analyses of water has remained unanswered.
In Peyia, people have still not developed a water savings consciousness and even the Municipality itself continues to use hosepipes with drinking water to water the roses right outside its offices – in the middle of the day!

Desalination for Peyia?
But even worse, in Leblanc’s opinion, is the Mayor and Council’s new interest in a desalination plant. She disagrees with this approach, saying that desalination is a last resort due to high cost, pollution, intrusion into protected coastal zones and lack of controls.
She asks, “Where will all these mobile desalination units be located – on the beach?”
Two hotels in Peyia have already applied for permits for mobile desalination units (the Coral Beach and Thalassa hotels owned by Leptos). Cyprus Environment Commissioner Charalambous Theopemptou has concerns, among other things, about who will monitor water quality and pollution and about exemptions from Environmental Impact Assessments for such mobile units producing up to 1,500 cubic metres per day.
Water statistics for Peyia indicate that almost 1% of consumers use about 30% of the water. These profligate consumers happen to be in the tourist areas where the hotels are located. Leblanc also wonders why Peyia Municipality would need its own desalination plant if these two hotels have their own units, as this would free up a lot of water for other consumers. Leblanc feels that desalination in Peyia would be used to fuel even more building. She says, “Peyia seems to prove the link between the rush for more desalination plants and even more unsustainable development. Isn’t it time that the public is properly informed and that residents of Peyia, not just the vested interests, can participate in making crucial decisions about our future sustainability?”
The public needs to be properly informed so that they understand the vast costs and consequences of desalination and how this seems set to fuel even more unsustainable development. One wonders why, at this late stage, the government has still not implemented simple legislation on water conservation measures, especially concerning new building standards.
The inevitable question pops into mind: Cui Bono?