WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 1 Experiences of the Common Implementation Strategy From the Perspective of a new Member State – Cyprus Christodoulos Artemis, Director of the Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Cyprus HELLENIC WATER WEEK International Seminar on the Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in the European Union and Beyond Athens June 2003

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 2 Outline of Presentation Cyprus at a Glance. Cyprus at a Glance. Progress in implementation tasks to be achieved by December Progress in implementation tasks to be achieved by December Experiences of Cyprus. Experiences of Cyprus. Conclusions. Conclusions.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 3 Cyprus at a Glance Location and Physical Description

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 4 Cyprus at a Glance (2) Water Balance

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 5 Cyprus at a Glance (3) Precipitation

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 6 Cyprus at a Glance (4) Water Demand

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 7 Cyprus at a Glance (5) Water Demand (2)

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 8 Cyprus at a Glance (6) Water Sector Organization Policy Level. Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (MANR&E) main ministry responsible for the formulation of the government´s water policy. Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (MANR&E) main ministry responsible for the formulation of the government´s water policy. Other important ministries involved are: Other important ministries involved are: – the Ministry of the Interior, – the Ministry of Finance and the. – the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. The ultimate responsible body is the Council of Ministers. The ultimate responsible body is the Council of Ministers.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 9 Cyprus at a Glance (7) Water Sector Organization (2) Executive Level Responsibility mainly divided between Responsibility mainly divided between – Ministry of the Interior and the – MANR&E The Ministry of the Interior, through the District Officers, has legal powers for distribution agencies and issue of ground water abstraction permits The Ministry of the Interior, through the District Officers, has legal powers for distribution agencies and issue of ground water abstraction permits MANR&E, through the Water Development Department and the Environment Service, is responsible for monitoring, management and protection of water resources MANR&E, through the Water Development Department and the Environment Service, is responsible for monitoring, management and protection of water resources

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 10 Cyprus at a Glance (8) Water Development Water master plan in the 1970’s, which envisaged: Water master plan in the 1970’s, which envisaged: On the Supply Side – the construction of dams - dam capacity increased from 6 MCM in 1960 to 307,5 MCM today, – drilling of boreholes, for domestic and irrigation purposes, – construction of recharge works and – construction of water treatment plants.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 11 Cyprus at a Glance (9) Water Development (2) On the Demand Side Water demand management measures such as: Water demand management measures such as: – installation of improved on farm irrigation systems, – construction of modern efficient conveyance and distribution systems, – water charge imposed for domestic and irrigation water and – Leakage detection systems and real time tele- monitoring and tele-control are now used.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 12 Cyprus at a Glance (10) Water Development (3) Available water was still not enough to satisfy the water demand for domestic and irrigation needs creating a water shortage. Available water was still not enough to satisfy the water demand for domestic and irrigation needs creating a water shortage. Cyprus turned to non-conventional water resources: Cyprus turned to non-conventional water resources: – Sea-water desalination to augment potable water supply and – Recycling of treated municipal effluents for irrigation and ground water recharge.

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WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 14 Cyprus at a Glance (11) Water Development (4) Our vision on water is to provide sustainably to all our people Our vision on water is to provide sustainably to all our people – sufficient, – safe, – clean, – healthy and – reliable water for domestic and irrigation needs and for the environment.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 15 Current Situation Regarding the Implementation of the WFD in Cyprus Various activities to support the implementation of the WFD are under way: Various activities to support the implementation of the WFD are under way: – An implementation programme has been prepared. – Nomination of focal points for the working groups established under the CIS. – Participation in the Water Directors meetings and in the SCG. Specific attention has been given to the implementation of the tasks, since their effective implementation is considered crucial for the whole implementation process. Specific attention has been given to the implementation of the tasks, since their effective implementation is considered crucial for the whole implementation process.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 16 Progress in Implementation Tasks to Be Achieved by December 2003 Legal Transposition All provisions of the WFD relating to water resources management and pricing will be transposed via the new unified Water Law. All provisions of the WFD relating to water resources management and pricing will be transposed via the new unified Water Law. All provisions relating to water pollution (quality objectives and licensing of discharges etc) will be transposed via the Water Pollution Control Law, which will be appropriately amended as required. All provisions relating to water pollution (quality objectives and licensing of discharges etc) will be transposed via the Water Pollution Control Law, which will be appropriately amended as required.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 17 Progress in Implementation Tasks to Be Achieved by December 2003 (2) Identification of River Basin Districts The whole island is to be considered as one River Basin District. The whole island is to be considered as one River Basin District. Identification of Competent Authorities The competent authority will be the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, acting through the Ministry. The competent authority will be the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, acting through the Ministry. The two main “agencies” responsible for implementing the provisions of the WFD will be the WDD (“the Water Entity” under the new unified Water Law) and the Environment Service. The two main “agencies” responsible for implementing the provisions of the WFD will be the WDD (“the Water Entity” under the new unified Water Law) and the Environment Service.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 18 Experiences of Cyprus Lack of sufficient quantitative, qualitative and other data. Lack of sufficient quantitative, qualitative and other data. Lack of an appropriate national monitoring and database system. Lack of an appropriate national monitoring and database system. The great co-ordination effort required among responsible authorities and stakeholders. The great co-ordination effort required among responsible authorities and stakeholders. Lack of the essential expertise and relevant human resources. Lack of the essential expertise and relevant human resources.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 19 Experiences of Cyprus (2) Lack of the appropriate technology. Lack of the appropriate technology. Τhe mentality of certain water users, who consider water as their own property. Τhe mentality of certain water users, who consider water as their own property. The high implementation cost. The high implementation cost. The extremely tight and demanding timetable. The extremely tight and demanding timetable. The fragmentation of the water legislation and powers. The fragmentation of the water legislation and powers.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 20 Experiences of Cyprus (3) Specific Challenges Related to Regional And/or Local Conditions Frequent extended droughts cause a water shortage problem resulting in water quantity and quality problems. Frequent extended droughts cause a water shortage problem resulting in water quantity and quality problems. Coastal waters occasionally affected by nutrients from agricultural and other activities Coastal waters occasionally affected by nutrients from agricultural and other activities Aquifer exhaustion and salinization in the coastal areas. Aquifer exhaustion and salinization in the coastal areas.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 21 Experiences of Cyprus (4) Specific Challenges Related to Regional And/or Local Conditions (2) Increased irrigation tends to aggravate environmental problems such as ground water pollution from nutrients and pesticides. Increased irrigation tends to aggravate environmental problems such as ground water pollution from nutrients and pesticides. Negative environmental impacts from the construction of a large number of dams such as reduction in groundwater recharge and saline intrusion. Negative environmental impacts from the construction of a large number of dams such as reduction in groundwater recharge and saline intrusion.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 22 Experiences of Cyprus (5) Specific Challenges Related to Regional And/or Local Conditions (3) Directive is more suited to the realities of the large river basins of Europe with wet climates. Directive is more suited to the realities of the large river basins of Europe with wet climates. Cyprus, on the other hand, Cyprus, on the other hand, – has a semi arid climate – numerous small but of great importance catchments, none of which provides perennial flow.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 23 Conclusions The European Union has set the objectives and the strategic framework with the Directive. The European Union has set the objectives and the strategic framework with the Directive. It is now up to each Member State to review the status and the particularities of its water resources and develop its own national implementation strategy. It is now up to each Member State to review the status and the particularities of its water resources and develop its own national implementation strategy. The WFD provides Cyprus with an unprecedented opportunity for introducing and implementing water policies that enhance the sustainability of the water resources. The WFD provides Cyprus with an unprecedented opportunity for introducing and implementing water policies that enhance the sustainability of the water resources.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 24 Conclusions (2) The effective implementation of the WFD in Cyprus, presupposes: The effective implementation of the WFD in Cyprus, presupposes: – the appropriate infrastructure, – great effort from all concerned, – long term planning, – change of thinking, – allocation of adequate financial resources, – political will.

WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 25 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION