While parts of Europe have been lashed by heavy winter rain, Cyprus is facing a starkly different reality. In February 2026, the island’s water reserves stood at just 13.7% of total storage capacity, prompting authorities to announce emergency measures and urge residents to cut consumption by 10%.
According to Europe’s Combined Drought Indicator, Cyprus is among the countries struggling with dry conditions. Eliana Tofa Christidou, head of the island’s water development department, said dam inflows are at their lowest since hydrological records began in 1901.
At the Kouris reservoir, the largest in a network of more than 100 reservoirs, water levels have fallen to 12.2% of capacity. The drop has exposed the church of St Nicholas, a monument usually submerged when the reservoir is full. In February 2025, a year officials already described as difficult, overall reserves stood at 26%. One year on, they have nearly halved.
“It is the worst drought in living memory,” Christidou told The Guardian. “Everyone has to reduce their consumption. Whether that is in the shower, brushing their teeth or using a washing machine. Times are critical and every drop now counts.”
The government has announced a €31 million package of emergency measures, the sixth such intervention in recent years. Residents are being asked to save the equivalent of two minutes of running water per day. A public awareness campaign aims to bring per capita consumption closer to 140 litres per person per day.
The gap between current use and that target is wide. While the European average stands at around 120 litres per person per day, Christidou said that in some parts of Cyprus consumption can reach 500 litres per day, driven by high temperatures and seasonal demand.
Data from the Mediterranean Growth Collective shows that temperatures on the island are rising 20% faster than the global average. Rainfall has fallen by an estimated 15% since 1901. Over the same period, water demand has increased by 300%, linked to population growth and tourism. Around three million tourists visit the internationally recognised south of the divided island each year, nearly three times the resident population.
Infrastructure weaknesses add further strain. Water leakages account for up to 40% of losses in some local networks. The emergency package includes funding for wastewater reuse, leakage repairs and financial support for households to install water saving appliances. Irrigation limits have also been introduced.
Desalination has become central to Cyprus’s strategy. Previous investments of €200 million have supported infrastructure upgrades, and the government is accelerating the installation of new units. Fourteen mobile desalination plants provided by the United Arab Emirates are expected to boost daily production capacity by around 15,000 cubic metres by the end of 2026.
In Paphos province, shortages have been aggravated by the malfunction of a permanent desalination facility in Kouklia, which previously produced 15,000 cubic metres of drinking water a day. A temporary unit with a capacity of 1,350 cubic metres per day is being installed at the same site, while a larger mobile unit in Kissonerga is expected to be operational by September. Smaller units with a combined output of 2,000 cubic metres per day are due to come online by July.
The 18 largest reservoirs across the island are currently 21.7% full. Authorities estimate that Paphos alone will require 9.15m cubic metres of water by the end of the year, with peak daily demand reaching 43,000 cubic metres. A 30% reduction in irrigation water has been enforced in the province, and golf courses will receive only 30% of their approved 2024 allocations.
In Limassol, where daily demand can reach 96,000 cubic metres, 12 mobile desalination units are being installed at Moni, with two more planned for Garylli and the port area. Extraction from the Kouris dam will be restricted to preserve remaining reserves.
Water cuts remain a contingency. Local authorities have prepared plans for short duration shutdowns, and households are advised to rely on rooftop storage tanks in the event of interruptions.
Officials warn that even with new desalination capacity, the situation remains fragile. “Even the most comprehensive plan could collapse without restricting wasteful consumption,” they said.
