Cyprus Authorities Urge Water Conservation Amid Record Heat and Drought

The Water Department has called on citizens to use water sparingly due to the ongoing extreme heat. According to the department, efficient use of water will significantly help preserve the scarce reserves in reservoirs, which are barely replenishing due to the persistent drought.

The use of water for washing roads, sidewalks, verandas, or cars remains prohibited. As part of the action plan to combat water shortages, the department stresses that public responsibility and reasonable water consumption are key to maintaining its availability both now and in the future.

Currently, reservoir capacity is only 16.3%, which equals 47 million cubic meters — less than half compared to last year (34.4%).

By region:

Reservoirs supplying the southern conveyor: 16.6% (last year — 31.7%).

Polis Chrysochous area: 17% (last year — 37.8%).

Paphos: only 15.7% (last year — 40.7%).

Capital region (Nicosia): critically low at 7.5% (last year — 23.3%). Particularly alarming is the Vyzakia reservoir, which currently contains just 11,000 m³ — only 0.7% of its capacity, compared to over 20 times more a year ago.