Friday 5 February 2010

Government to secure sufficient water supplies

The government is fully aware of the challenges ahead and through the implementation of a sustainable water management policy is taking all necessary measures to ensure water security now and in the future, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Michalis Polynikis said Wednesday.

Addressing the fourth annual Water and Energy Exchange International Conference in Limassol, Polynikis said the primary objective is to secure enough quantities of potable water to cover at least the basic needs of the population and to eliminate dependency on weather conditions by installing sea water desalination plants.

Despite the construction of many surface water reservoirs since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, the dependency on rainfall still continues, he added.

The long and frequent periods of droughts, he said, have proved that storing rainwater into reservoirs only allows short-term planning and is not a sustainable long-term solution.

''Currently one mobile and two permanent desalination plants are in operation and additional desalination plants are planned to be constructed in the next couple of years with the objective to achieve water security so that every person has continuous access to safe water'', he added.

At the same time, he stressed, attention is turned on other non-conventional water resources, such as recycling of treated municipal effluents in order to cover the water needs of the agricultural sector and ensure a gradual integration into the water balance. Recycled water for irrigation and recharge purposes is a growing resource in Cyprus.

The Minister announced earlier in the week the end to water cuts, which were introduced about two years ago following sever drought.
(CNA)

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