Save water week in Cyprus commences

Various events to mark Save Water Week 2009, which started on Tuesday and will conclude on Saturday, will be held with a view to raise public awareness on the need to save water.

Speaking at a press conference, the head of the Water Development Department Sofoklis Aletraris said that during this week citizens will have the chance to get information about the water problem Cyprus faces, the solutions proposed for saving water as well as the subsidies offered by the Water Development Department regarding ways to save water.

He added that citizens will be able to get this information by visiting the special kiosks to be set up and operated by the Water Development Department in cooperation with the Water Boards and Municipalities in the main areas of all cities.

He noted that the government aims to end completely the dependency of the country’s water supplies on rainfall and meet water demand through desalination plants.

Referring to the issue of leakage in water supply networks, Aletraris said that the Water Development Department said a study must be conducted with a view to replace the pipelines of the cities’ water supply.

To this effect, he concluded, the sum of 20 million euro was approved in 2009 in order to replace the water supply networks in many communities.

Cyprus has been suffering from severe drought and water cuts, which are still in place, had been imposed in a bid to save water.