I.A.CO has signed a Contract with the Water Development Department to Revise the Cyprus Water Policy as it has been enacted by the Council of Ministers in 2011.
Revising the Cyprus Water Policy, involves initially analysing the current situation of water supply and demand in all water services and uses, through the collection, evaluation and analysis of available information and data. Consequently, water supply and demand up to 2050 will be determined considering the impacts of climate change and taking into account the most creditable climate change scenarios as projected for the Southeast Mediterranean region. Moreover, a review of the performance of the major water projects of the Water Development Department as it was foreseen at their design and expansion phase will be elaborated. Further on, recommendations on opportunities to manage water demand, and for necessary water infrastructure expansion projects if deemed necessary will be justified, together with other management measures and guidelines to all Water Management Units aiming at the optimal management of the water resources and for balancing supply and demand up to the year 2050.
- The expected benefits from the upcoming Revision of the Cyprus Water Policy are summed up as follows:
- Appropriate planning based on the estimation of the water balance for the optimal coverage of the current and the future water demand.
- Assessment of the potential climate change risks on the water balance, enhancing thus Resilience of the Water Resources Sector and Adaptation to Climate Change.
- Rational and sustainable management of Cyprus’s water resources, especially during periods of drought.
- Reduction of water losses with a corresponding increase in revenue.
- Enhanced Water Demand Management regime.
Considering the drought periods that Cyprus has been experiencing more frequently the last years, which become more intense due to Climate Change effects reducing the productivity of the conventional water resources of the island, along with the increasing demand for water mainly due to population and tourism growth coupled with the effects of Climate Change in the demand side as well, the Revision of the Water Policy becomes imperative in order to make the Water Sector resilient to the current and upcoming challenges.
