An ambitious European project to resolve Cyprus’ major water problem is in the final stages of evaluation by technocrats and experts from the European Union.
A fundamental principle of the European program for sound water management, Mining Water, is that Cyprus should be able to provide more water, in a more economical way than currently costly desalination.
Over the past few decades, the island has tried to tackle its water shortage problem with household rationing, importing 8 million cubic metres of water in tanker ships from neighbouring Greece, and desalination plants. Farmers located in Cyprus still bear higher water costs today, due to deeper groundwater pumping and insufficient surface water resources. The situation results in income losses and in decrease in agricultural competitiveness.
Associate Professor of Water Cycles at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, Dimitris Xevgenos, Executive Coordinator of the entire project, emphasized the importance of the project, at a time when the Mediterranean is facing the major impacts of the climate crisis.
Addressing Cypriot journalists – who visited the higher education institution at the initiative of the Dutch Embassy in Nicosia – he stressed that a “culture change” is required. He noted that the Cypriot authorities are willing to contribute and participate decisively in the project’s processes.