Management of Water Resources in Cyprus

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1 Management of Water Resources in Cyprus CHARLES DEMETRIOU Hydrologist Water Development Department Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environment 9 July, 2012

2 OUTLINE Mission of the Water Development Department (WDD) Water scarcity and droughts climatic changes Water Budget Water resources management Policy Directions Conclusions 2

3 Mission of Water Development Department (WDD) The Water Development Department is responsible for implementing the water policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. Main objective of this policy is the rational development and integrated and sustainable management of the water resources of Cyprus. In this context, the responsibilities of the department cover a wide and diverse spectrum, which includes: α) Sustainable management: water supply (water supply, irrigation, environment). Protecting water resources from contamination and pollution. b) Rational development: Study, design, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs, irrigation, water supply and sewage networks, water treatment, sewage treatment, waste water reuse networks and water desalination. c) Measurements: The collection, processing and classification of hydrological, hydrogeological, geotechnical and other data necessary for the design, maintenance and security of development projects. d) Demand management: Growing awareness among water consumers to 3

4 Water scarcity and droughts climatic changes 4

5 Topography 5

6 Mean annual rainfall in Cyprus (mm). 6

7 Water scarcity and droughts in Cyprus Severe water scarcity problem in Cyprus for centuries Frequent occurrence of droughts The island was nearly deserted many times in the past Cyprus and Malta are the water poor countries of Europe (1) Limited water resources Depend mainly on rainfall Scarce & expensive to exploit Unevenly distributed rainfall Temporally and geographically Many small catchments, but no perennial flow (1) European Commission First Interim Report on Water Scarcity and Drought, November

8 Declining rainfall in Cyprus Annual Precipitation in Cyprus (MM) Statistical analysis reveals a stepped drop of precipitation in the early 70 s 8

9 Variation of precipitation effect of climatic changes PRECIPITATION IN mm LEGEND: Extreme wet ( >130% normal) Wet ( % normal) Above normal ( % normal) Around normal (91-110% normal) Below normal (81-90% normal) Drought (71-80% normal) Severe drought 70% normal Average mm mm Normal = 503 mm / / / / / / / / / / /02 HYDROLOGICAL YEAR 1901/ /08

10 Projected Climate Change Impacts Temperature: Change in mean annual temperature by the end of the century (C o ) Precipitation: Change in annual amount by the end of the century (%) Source: European Commission Green Paper on Adapting to Climate Change in Europe,

11 Water Budget 11

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15 WATER BUDGET Mean values (MCM) Rainfall 476 mm INFLOW (Surface storage) 82 INFLOW (Groundwater) 201 OUTFLOW (to the sea) 62 Available (Groundwater) 139 TOTAL Available (SW+ GW) 221 DEMAND 250 SW Releases 60 GW extraction (Pumping) 146 TOTAL Releases/ Extractions 206 RELEASES -DEMAND -44 (+33*+8**) *Desalinated **Recycled

16 Use of water in Cyprus 16

17 Water Resources Management in Cyprus 17

18 Water policy in Cyprus Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU Efforts to address the water scarcity challenge have defined the water policy of the Government, since independence in 1960 Recognising the critical role of water, a sustainable water resources strategy was promoted, in the framework of an integrated environmental policy The water policy in Cyprus is based on two pillars: I. Sustainable development of water resources II. Water demand management 18

19 I. Sustainable Development of Water Resources 19

20 WATER POLICY Objective To secure a balance between supply and demand for all the water sectors, that will be sustainable over time and subject to the Minimum possible cost

21 Water Master Plan On the Supply Side the construction of dams -dam capacity increased from 6MCM in 1960 to 327,5 MCM today. drilling of boreholes, for domestic and irrigation purposes, construction of water treatment plants and construction of recharge works. On the Demand Side Water demand managementmeasures such as: installation of improved on-farm irrigation systems, construction of modern efficient conveyance and distribution systems, water charges imposed for domestic and irrigation water.

22 Dam capacity through the years ( ) ,4 298,4 298,4 298,4 298,4 298,4 300,1 300,1 300,3 300,3 304,6 304,6 304,7 304,7 307,5 307,5 307,5 325,5 327,5 327,5 ACCUMULATED STORAGE CAPACITY ( Million Cubic Metres of Water ) ,8 119,3 119,9 152,5 176,5 183,4 50 6,2 10,6 12,1 23,7 27,4 31,3 31,6 46,4 46,7 46,8 46,8 46,8 63,5 63,6 63,7 63,7 63,9 63,9 63,9 64,3 64, YEAR

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25 Water development projects Significant water supply, irrigation and wastewater treatment projects have been completed over the years All residential and industrial units have been connected with excellent quality water, according to EU standards More than 107 dams have been constructed Polemidia Dam Capacity: 3.4 MCM Year: 1965 Yermasoyia Dam Capacity: 13.5 MCM Year: 1968 Asprokremmos Dam Capacity: 52.4 MCM Year: 1982 Kouris Dam Capacity: MCM Year: 1988 For several years, the water development expenditure accounted for about 20% of the total Development Budget 25

26 Need for additional measures Dependence on rainfall still continues The long and frequent periods of droughts have proven that storing rainwater into reservoirs only allows short-term planning Attention is turned on non-conventional water resources such as desalination and the use of recycled water 26

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36 Seawater desalination Construction of new desalination plants and upgrading of existing ones New plants expected to be completed by 2013 Drinking water needs of large urban and tourist areas to be satisfied Dependence on rainfall to be eliminated More quantities of dam water to be provided for Irrigation needs Provision of environmental flows Recharge of the heavily over-pumped aquifers The use of desalinated water is expected to Generate economic and social benefits Improve the safety and reliability of drinking water supply 36

37 Desalination Plants Desalination Plant Expected production for 2011 and 2012 Contracted minimum daily production (90% or rated) Rated daily production Expected daily production Total for 2011 Total for 2012 m 3 m 3 Mil. m 3 Mil. m 3 Larnaka 61,667 55,500 20,26 20,26 Dhekelia 60,000 54,000 19,71 19,71 Moni (mobile) 20,000 18,000 6,57 - Garillis (mobile) 10,000 9,000 3,28 - Vasilikos (permanent) 60,000 54,000-19,71 Εpiskopi (permanent) 40,000 36,000-13,14 Κouklia (Pafos) (permanent) 30,000 27,000 9,86 9,86 TOTAL 59,68 82,68 The total amount of water supplied for domestic use for 2010 was 92 Mil. m 3

38 Recycled water Recycled water for irrigation of crops in existing and new plantations, eg forage Improve water budget deficit Protect the environment, according to the EU Directive on Sustainable development Support Agriculture, free water for domestic use 38

39 FUTURE PRODUCTION OF RECYCLED WATER (Based on the rated plant capacity) 2009 (MCM/year) 2012 (MCM/year) 2015 (MCM/year) 2025 (MCM/year) Treatment Plants servicing urban areas Treatment plants servicing small communities TOTAL Total water Demand is 265 MCM/year

40 Utilization of storm waters Floods during intense rainfalls Loss of great qualities of water Pressing need for collection, storage, treatment and reuse of the storm water Utilization of storm waters at small scale level (house, neighborhood etc) Results are presented to the public Soon different measures to be adopted by the Ministry

41 II. Water Demand Management 41

42 Cultivation of a water saving culture Water saving measures have been promoted for decades now Cultivation of a water saving culture is an ongoing measure 42

43 Water metering and pricing Metering is applied to all water uses Water billing is based on the actual consumption metered at each individual water supply point For drinking water, charges are based on rising block tariffs For irrigation water provided through the government schemes, charges are established on a volumetric basis and penalty charges apply for over-consumption Existing pricing policies have been revised and adjusted to the provisions of Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive 43

44 Leakage reduction in distribution networks A systematic effort is made to reduce water losses Efficient, closed-piped systems are used to distribute water for both domestic and irrigation purposes Programme to replace old distribution networks Over the past years, approximately 70 million has been spent to upgrade / replace domestic water supply networks in rural areas 44

45 Improved irrigation systems Modern and efficient irrigation systems (80-90% efficiencies) covering more than 95% of total irrigated land 45

46 Water rationing during periods of drought Drastic rationing measures are implemented during periods of drought to reduce domestic and agricultural water supply Priority is given to the domestic sector Drinking water restrictions to households could reach up to 20% Irrigation water restrictions to agriculture could reach up to 70% 46

47 Drought management Plan 47

48 Addressing illegal abstraction Problem with non-licenced boreholes Implementation of a pilot project with the aim to record the number of non-licenced boreholes and amount of water abstracted Introduction of a more stringent procedure regarding borehole drilling and abstraction permits through the Integrated Water Management Law 48

49 Institutional Framework for Integrated Water Management 49

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52 River basin district of Cyprus with its watersheds, rivers and lakes. 9 Hydrological Districts, 70 watersheds

53 Surface water status.

54 Groundwater status.

55 Institutional Framework in Cyprus Water challenges are addressed through an integrated water management framework Water Protection and Management Law (WFD transposition) Integrated Water Management Law Pollution Control Law Integrated Water Management Law is an important milestone for water management in Cyprus Entered into force on 15 November 2010 Addresses problem of fragmented responsibilities Simplifies complex procedures to enable the promotion of effective water governance Introduces tools for the protection and development of water resources on the island Enforces more stringent procedures regarding borehole drilling and abstraction permits 55

56 Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) is currently being implemented Drought Management Plan also established, due to the severe water scarcity and drought problems in Cyprus 56

57 Cyprus RBMP at a glance Significant Water Pressures in Cyprus Over-pumping and deterioration of underground aquifers Hydromorphological changes Point Source Pressures Diffuse Source Pressures Municipal wastewater Livestock waste Industrial waste Solid waste disposal sites Mining and quarrying Aquaculture, desalination plants and ports Agricultural activities Livestock waste Municipal wastewater,where no sewerage networks nor treatment facilities exist Rainwater runoff 57

58 Cyprus RBMP at a glance (II) Status of Cyprus Water Bodies (% of Water Bodies in Good Status) 58

59 Cyprus RBMP at a glance (III) Cyprus Programme of Measures 97 Basic Measures 56 Complementary Measures Administrative Measures Economic and Fiscal Measures Environmental Agreements Emission Controls Codes of Good Practice Demand Management Measures Efficiency andreuse Measures Desalination Installations Rehabilitation of Existing Infrastructure Artificial Recharge of Aquifers Educational Measures Use of treated wastewater 59

60 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/ΕC in CYPRUS Cyprus is currently implementing it according to the deadlines Development of the Management Plan Present status of the water bodies Objectives for achieving good status of all water bodies Implement Program of measures for achieving these objectives Great importance on Public Participation on all stages of the implementation of the Directive (Directives) Objective: Protect and improve the status of all water bodies in CYPRUS 60

61 Conclusions 61

62 Challenges in Water management Many challenges Climate changes, water scarcity and droughts Social changes,economic development Increasing demand for good quality water Water is a national treasure and we need to protect it for the next generations The rational management and exploitation of water resources is a prerequisite for sustainable development, improving quality of life, protection and conservation Priority of the Government: Integrated and sustainable management of water resources 62

63 Thank you for your attention 63