Cyprus’ dams are at 60.2 per cent full, with farmers and consumers on tenterhooks that this winter will match the bountiful rains of the winters of 2018 and 2019 and not last year’s paltry precipitation.
According to the latest figures of the Water Development Department dated August 16, there are currently 175,169 million cubic metres in storage at the dams – equivalent to 60.2 per cent of total capacity and well down on the 255,448 million cubic metres – 87.8 per cent of capacity – on the same day last year.
Kouris, by far the largest dam representing more than a third of total capacity is 61.5 per cent full compared to 90.9 per cent while the second biggest, Asprokremmos is at 75.5 per cent compared to 92.6 per cent.
Any shortfall in rain for a second consecutive year will increase dependence on desalinated water and push authorities to curb water supply for irrigation.
Last year’s inflow to the dams was the third lowest of the past 11 years at only 36,073 million cubic metres. This is only a fraction of the record-setting 265,042 million cubic metres of the winter of 2018-2019 that was followed by 135,949 million cubic metres – the third highest of the 11 years, of 2019-2020.
Meanwhile the hot weather continues. Temperatures have been tolerable at close to the seasonal average in the past few days, but hotter weather is forecast later this week and over the weekend, according to the latest met office forecast.
Maximum temperatures at 3pm on Wednesday were 37C in Nicosia, 35C at Larnaca Airport, 32C in Limassol, 31C at Paphos Airport, 34 C at Frenaros, 31C at Prodromos and 35C in Polis Chrysochous.
The article Reservoirs at 60% of capacity, fears over repeat of last winter’s dearth of rainfall first appeared on Cyprus Mail
