The Water Development Department has said that environmental and resource fees applied to water users are required under a 2017 law and are not new charges introduced in response to the current water situation.
The department issued the clarification after media reports and parliamentary criticism.
It said consumers supplied by government water projects have been paying the fees for years, while billing for private‑borehole users began gradually in 2020 because of administrative and technical delays.
Officials said farmers and livestock producers using private boreholes face an added cost of €0.01 per cubic meter, while users of government‑supplied agricultural water pay €0.17 per cubic meter, including €0.02 in environmental and resource fees.
Large bills reported recently reflect high‑volume extraction over long periods, the department said.
On golf courses, the department said three are irrigated with reclaimed water at €0.29 per cubic meter, while two supplied from the Paphos irrigation network are in a transition phase, with dam‑water deliveries ending by May 2026.
Courses receiving water from government works now pay €0.42 per cubic meter, including €0.08 in environmental fees.
A review of the department’s pricing policy is under way and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.