Consumers across Cyprus are expected to face water cuts on an “every other day” basis if a 10 per cent reduction in supply is imposed by EOA Nicosia. The measure would mark the first time since 2008-2009 that such restrictions are applied on this scale.
According to estimates by the Nicosia District Local Government Organisation, the only technically feasible and operationally safe way to manage a permanent 10 per cent deficit for a period of 12 months is through a rotational supply system.
Under this plan, consumers would receive water on alternating days. The organisation says this approach is necessary to avoid the emptying of reservoirs and central pipelines and to reduce the risk of hydraulic instability in the network.
The Nicosia network will break into two broader sections, A and B, with alternating supply days. Section A would receive water on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while Section B would receive water on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
The president of the organisation, Constantinos Yiorkadjis, said the plan follows a technical assessment of reservoir capacity, the operation of main pipelines and the need to maintain adequate pressure levels. He stated that the rotational method ensures equal distribution of available water and lowers the risk of system failure.
The projections are based on operational experience from the water cuts of 2008-2009. The organisation says the estimates are drawn from real data recorded during that period and are not hypothetical scenarios.
During the 12-month reduction period, the system would be subjected to repeated pressure changes caused by the daily opening and closing of supply zones.
The organisation estimates that reported faults and breakdowns would increase by around 30 per cent. Most complaints are expected to relate to lack of supply, low pressure and water turbidity following restoration.
To implement the plan, four additional repair crews would be required to carry out daily shut-offs and re-openings and to respond to on-site problems. The organisation also warns that the repeated strain on the network is likely to have effects lasting two to three years after the reduction period ends.
It forecasts an increase in leaks and new pipeline failures. Unbilled water, meaning water lost due to pipeline damage, is expected to rise by an average of 5 per cent. It is estimated that three years would be needed for the network and unbilled water levels to return to their current condition.
The financial impact for Nicosia alone is estimated at around €9 million. During the 12-month reduction year, the organisation projects a loss of approximately €1.15 million in revenue from water sales and additional costs of about €1.65 million for extra crews, incident response and repairs, bringing the total for that year to roughly €2.8 million.
For the following three years, it estimates around €2.6 million in network failures linked to system strain and about €3.6 million due to increased unbilled water, resulting in an additional €6.2 million.
The organisation states that similar problems, and possibly more severe ones, are expected to affect consumers served by other district water organisations across Cyprus, depending on the condition of each network.
It notes that even Nicosia’s network, described as one of the most advanced and supported by specialised repair teams, would face significant operational pressure under a 10 per cent supply cut.