1. INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF GROUND WATER RESOURCES IN CYPRUS
Dr Maria Zachariou-dodou
Institute Environment Sustainable Development Cyprus
Dr Maria Zachariou-Dodou
Ministry of Agriculture
Natural Resources and Environment

2. Outline of Presentation
Status of Water Resources of Cyprus
Integrated Management Policy of the Water Resources /Ground Water
Impacts of the policy
Recommendations and
Conclusions

3. Cyprus at a Glance Location and Physical Description Area ………………………… Km2 Population ………………… Average annual rainfall … mm form 2000 reduce 468mm
Greater urban areas: ~ 75%
Rural areas: 25%

4. Mean annual precipitation in Cyprus
Extreme wet (>130% normal)
Below normal (81-90% normal)

5. Water sources used for the satisfaction of water demand in Cyprus (average for the period 2000-2010)

6. Available Water Resources: )
FRESH WATER RESOURCES
Reservoirs (government) (average ) MCM/year
Boreholes (government) MCM/year
Boreholes Non Government )
Boreholes ** (illegal 40MCM) estimate MCM/year
UNCONVENTIONAL WATER RESOURCES
Desalination (capacity 90MCM) government) MCM/year
Reclaim water (government) MCM/y
TOTAL ANNUAL DEMANDS
Government MCM (70MCM irrigation)
Non Government MCM (80 MCM irrigation)
MAIN WATER SUPLIER - GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Supply-variable
** private
250 MCM/year

8. Water sources used for the satisfaction of water demand in Cyprus (average for the period 2000-2010)

10. Allocation of total water consumption per sector for 2011 (258 Mm3 )

11. MANAGEMENT POLICY OF THE WATER RESOURCES
The policy is based on the fact that Cyprus is phasing a water stress (less than 500 m/p/y) as a result of the limited water resources
Main Objectives of the Policy :
Increase the Supply of Water Resources to satisfy increasing water demands
To reduce and regulate demands by apply effective and efficient utilization
Quantitative objectives

12. MANAGEMENT POLICY OF THE WATER RESOURCES
NEW Objectives included qualitative and quantitative criteria (2004 and onwards):
Protection of all water resources
Reduction of pollution (agriculture, industry, livestock, wastewaters )
Implementation of measures to avoid further deterioration, and Achieve “good status of all waters by 2015 (chemical)
Implementation of measures for sustainable water management (abstractions)
Revision of legal and institutional framework to allow implementation of the objectives

13. MEASURES TO APPLY THE POLICY
INDIRECT
DIRECT

14. Construction of dams Increase Supplies indirect measure

15. Measures to increase the Supply of Water Resources
Construction of dams – dam capacity increased from 6 MCM in 1960 to of 332 Mm3 today (No dams 108)
Installation of conveyance system to transport water to poorer water resources areas
Introduce the use of non-conventional water resources
Ground water exploration – drilling of boreholes for domestic and irrigation uses
Construction of Recharge works to enriched aquifers)

16. Conveyance System to transfer water to poorer areas (indirect alleviate pressure on ground waters)(efficient conveyance (leakage detection leakage detection, minimize losses, tele-monitoring, telecontrol)

17. Construction of Water Treatment Plants WS (indirect replace ground water use ) Water conservation measures Metering of water /saving devices Limited duration of flow to the users Establish subsidies (BH, grey water use). Increase water charges

18. I Demand Management –Agriculture Improved Irrigation Systems (drop irrigation ,Quotas (Restriction of the amount of irrigation water) (charge over use)

19. Construction of Recharge Work to enrich aquifers (key priority
Construction of Recharge Work to enrich aquifers (key priority. from surface water /treated wastewaters)

20. MEASURES TO APPLY THE POLICY
Ground water exploration – drilling of boreholes for domestic and irrigation uses)
Introduce the use of non-conventional water resources
Undertake campaigns for water conservation

21. IMPACT OF THE POLICY
The construction of a large number of dams ,108, on all major rivers ,, has led to reduced natural recharge of downstream aquifers.
ALSO
To Secure a safe yield from the storage reservoirs, storage reservoirs were over sized to provide multi-year storage (1-2 years).
As a result of this and of he consecutive years of extreme droughts dams had hardly been full, (no overflow) depriving the recharging of down stream aquifers

22. IMPACT OF THE POLICY
Replenish of aquifers have not been successful, since is long term process (at least 12 years) AND PROVITED that no water is being extracted from the aquifer.
Rehabilitation of a groundwater bodies, heavily affected by sea intrusion is even more difficult ,since is slower process and sometimes maybe irreversible
The Measures to Reduce and Regulate Demands,
to alleviation of pressure on ground water resources, did not have positive results, due to the increasing demand (most years demand exceed the supply)

23. IMPACT OF THE POLICY
Water cuts, quotas for water use and high water pricing, with diminishing precipitation ,and consecutive years of droughts, lead to illegally abstract ions and in further deterioration of groundwater status
No Law for abstractions up to (license for drilling- Lead to the uncontrolled exploitation of aquifers. /Seawater intrusion to coastal aquifers (salinization)
New Law Integrated water Management 79 (1) 2010 introduce permitting off Abstractions (limits quantities, introduce metering

24. IMPACT OF THE POLICY
Enforcement of all relevant European Legislation and directives have positive impacts on the
Control of the deterioration of quality GW bodies
Limiting and controlling of all polluting activities (Agriculture / livestock/ wastewaters disposal/solid wastes/to a less extend industry,) protecting the pollution of GW resources

25. PRESENT STATUS OF GROUND WATER BODIES
only 2 from the 19 GB are not over-pumped (non sustainable abstraction)
From the monitoring, 10 GB had a downward trend and only 3 had an upward trend
11 from 19 GB are considered to be in bad condition.
Over exploitation of aquifers is the main cause for the bad status of the GW in Cyprus
Quality of groundwater is also affected by natural causes like geological formations which release sulphate and chloride salts of sodium and boron

26. What ELSE to be done??? RECOMMENDATIONS –
Several additional Measures are required to be implemented in order to obtain good status of ground waters by 2015????

27. RECOMMENDATIONS –
Enforce Monitoring and control of all abstractions, and implement Sustainable water balance (during droughts)
Seal All illegal drillings
Price also ground water abstractions
Allocate Ground water bodies for current and future uses.(provide for reserves)

28. Extend Replenishment of over pumped aquifers
RECOMMENDATIONS
Extend Replenishment of over pumped aquifers
Regulate river flows and discharges from the dams, to support the aquifer recharge
Furthermore it is also essential to apply demand management to agriculture since this is the largest consumer of the ground water resources, and also incorporate recycle water in the water management cycle.

29. Conclusions
Ground water resources in Cyprus is under stress, as a result of the limited water resources and of the climatic changes
Diminishing precipitation and consecutive years of droughts lead to the over-exploitation of aquifers, and the deterioration of their quality
The policy to increase the supplies in order to satisfy the increasing demand ,without the legal instruments to enforced sustainable use of ground water resources have failed

30. Conclusions
The sustainable use of the ground resources remained to be seen, since the new law for permitting abstractions, is in force since
Enforcement of the NEW water Management law is a major challenge for Cyprus as a result of the large number of illegal drillings (estimated ),which should be sealed or controlled.

31. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION