Recycled water produced by sewerage units constitutes a steady source for irrigation purposes and is expected to cover approximately 30% of Cyprus` irrigation needs, senior official of the Water Development Department Andreas Manoli has told CNA.
In statements to Cyprus News Agency Manoli spoke of the excellent quality of recycled water in Cyprus, as it is produced after having undergone tertiary treatment and is suitable for use in all crops apart from leafy green vegetables consumed raw, such as lettuce and cabbage.
“Our obligations under European directive 91/271/EEC are to construct sewerage projects in all communities with a population of over 2,000 residents”, he said.
This obligation will have a total cost of 1.7 billion euro, he noted, adding that another 500 million needs to be spent in order for the projects under way to be completed until 2027.
“From the projects which have already been completed and the ones to be completed in future we produce water which has undergone tertiary treatment, which is of an excellent quality for irrigation purposes”, he said.
Asked for what crops recycled water can be used, he said that “it can be used for the irrigation of all crops apart from leafy green vegetables which are eaten raw such as lettuce and cabbage.
Manoli also explained that the EU has not as yet issued specific standards on the quality of recycled water. Most European countries, he sai,d “produce water which has undergone secondary treatment, which is of a lower quality than our own which has undergone tertiary treatment”.
Replying to a question over quantities used he said that in Cyprus 80% of recycled water produced is used for irrigation purposes, adding that with time its production and therefore its use will increase. Also, he said, the necessary projects in order for the water to be distributed to farmers will be completed.
According to Manoli, “starting from 2015 production is projected to be 31 million cubic metres of water while 20 million cubic metres will be used”, adding that this corresponds to approximately 10% – 15% of total irrigation demand in Cyprus
This, he noted, “will increase on a yearly basis and in 2023 production is expected to reach 47 million cubic meters which will be used in full”. This quantity, he added, will correspond to approximately 30% of irrigation needs.
Replying to a question he said that recycled water is also channeled to aquifers. This way, he added, it undergoes even further treatment and is then once more used for irrigation.
At the same time, he pointed out, “in cases where an aquifer’s levels are low and it risks to become salinised, recycled water is added to the aquifer boosting its levels and pushing sea water back”. As a result, he added, the high quality of the aquifer`s water is restored.
Recycled water is indeed of excellent quality, he stressed.
Manoli also noted that recycled water quantities produced “are much more steady than those which come from rainfall, because they exclusively depend on the water`s consumption”.
Despite consumption decreasing somewhat in times of crisis recycled water is still “a very steady source of water compared to any other”, he said.
He also said that a bicommunal sewerage plant constructed in the Turkish occupied village of Mia Milia is also expected to distribute to the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus 7 million cubic meters per year.
Before this water can be distributed, however, there are some studies and projects that need to be completed.
Asked whether a timetable has been set, he replied that distribution is expected to start if all goes well by 2017, adding that there are some other plans but they are not final.
The interview was taken in context of the project Rethink: Reduce- Reuse – Recycle which is funded by the EU programme LIFE+ (project code: LIFE13 INF/CY/000910) of the EU.
Coordinating Beneficiary: CyBC. Partners: GreenDot Cyprus, Department of Environment, Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, CNA, Fost Plus Belgium
