1 INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF GROUND WATER RESOURCES IN CYPRUS Dr
Maria Zachariou-dodou Institute Environment Sustainable Development
Cyprus [email protected] Dr Maria Zachariou-Dodou Ministry of
Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment Slide 2 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 Slide 3 3 Cyprus at a
Glance Location and Physical Description Area 9250 Km 2 Population
. 820 00 Average annual rainfall . 1960-1990 503mm form 2000 reduce
468mm Cyprus at a Glance Location and Physical Description Area
9250 Km 2 Population . 820 00 Average annual rainfall . 1960-1990
503mm form 2000 reduce 468mm Greater urban areas: ~ 75% Rural
areas: 25% Slide 4 Mean annual precipitation in Cyprus Extreme wet
(>130% normal) Below normal (81-90% normal) 4 Slide 5 Water
sources used for the satisfaction of water demand in Cyprus
(average for the period 2000-2010) 5 Slide 6 6 Available Water
Resources: ) FRESH WATER RESOURCES Reservoirs (government) (average
) 60- 137 MCM/year Boreholes (government) 30 MCM/year Boreholes Non
Government ) 30 Boreholes ** (illegal 40MCM) estimate 40 MCM/year
UNCONVENTIONAL WATER RESOURCES Desalination (capacity 90MCM)
government) 52 MCM/year Reclaim water (government) 30 MCM/y TOTAL
ANNUAL DEMANDS Government 140 MCM (70MCM irrigation) Non Government
110MCM(80 MCM irrigation) MAIN WATER SUPLIER - GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Supply-variable ** private 250 MCM/year Slide 7 7 Slide 8 Water
sources used for the satisfaction of water demand in Cyprus
(average for the period 2000-2010) 8 Slide 9 9 Slide 10 Allocation
of total water consumption per sector for 2011 (258 Mm 3 ) 10 Slide
11 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 1960-2004: Increase the Supply of Water Resources to
satisfy increasing water demands To reduce and regulate demands by
apply effective and efficient utilization Quantitative objectives
Slide 12 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
Slide 13 13 MEASURES TO APPLY THE POLICY MEASURES TO APPLY THE
POLICY INDIRECT DIRECT Slide 14 14 Construction of dams Increase
Supplies indirect measure Slide 15 15 Measures to increase the
Supply of Water Resources Construction of dams dam capacity
increased from 6 MCM in 1960 to of 332 Mm 3 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) Slide 16 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 ) Slide 17 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 Slide 18 18 I Demand
Management Agriculture Improved Irrigation Systems (drop
irrigation,Quotas (Restriction of the amount of irrigation water)
(charge over use) Slide 19 19 Construction of Recharge Work to
enrich aquifers ( key priority. from surface water /treated
wastewaters) Slide 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 20 Slide 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 21 Slide 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 )
22 Slide 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 2010 (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 23 Slide 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 24 Slide 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 25 Slide 26 26 What ELSE to
be done??? RECOMMENDATIONS 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???? Slide 27 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) Slide 28 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. 28 Slide 29 29
Conclusions 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 Slide 30 Conclusions The sustainable use of the ground
resources remained to be seen, since the new law for permitting
abstractions, is in force since 2010 Enforcement of the NEW water
Management law is a major challenge for Cyprus as a result of the
large number of illegal drillings (estimated 40 000),which should
be sealed or controlled. 30 Slide 31 31 THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION [email protected] Slide 32 32 Slide 33 33
