Cyprus, Nicosia

Concerns have been raised in Cyprus about the condition of dams and reservoirs

16.03.2024 / 23:32
News Category

On Tuesday, the authorities in Cyprus expressed concerns about the condition of the island's dams and reservoirs. However, the Ministry of Agriculture states that the situation is under control.

According to the Phileleftheros publication, the condition of ten old dams in Cyprus is assessed by the Water Development Council, which claims that without measures being taken, the result could be the destruction of property and even loss of life.

The agency's message states that these dams are built near residential areas and play an important role in the country's economy but have mechanical problems.

Among the dams classified as high-risk due to their proximity to residential areas are Polemidia (near Limassol), Tamasos (near Nicosia), Xyliatos, and Evretu. At the same time, the dams of Germasoyia, Lefkara, Dipotamos, and Kalavasos suffer from serious mechanical damage.

"Any destruction of the two largest dams in Cyprus - Kuris and Asprokremmos, could have enormous economic consequences," the statement said.

Also among the assessed hydraulic structures is the Polemidia dam, one of the oldest in Cyprus, built in 1965 with a capacity of 3,864,000 cubic meters.

The electromechanical equipment of the dam is worn out, which is considered a very serious problem because it cannot be emptied in an emergency.

The Tamasos dam, built in 2002 with a capacity of 2,800,000 m³, is the top risk on the list due to its location above the city of Nicosia. Part of the spillway is built on clayey soil, which is unstable.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Andreas Gregoriou told the Cyprus News Agency that the authorities are aware of the situation and regularly conduct technical maintenance to prevent any critical failures.

According to the official, there is no danger - competent services are actively carrying out maintenance work on the dams.

"We are more concerned about the low water level this year," added the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.

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