Experiences for drought management plans in Cyprus

• Published in: Options Méditerranéennes. Série A : Séminaires Méditerranéens (CIHEAM) no. 80
• Main Author: Tsiourtis, N.X., NT Water Pros Ltd, Aglantzia-Nicosia (Cyprus)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Zaragoza (Spain) CIHEAM-IAMZ 2008
• Subjects: DROUGHT; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2391; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5951; MITIGATION; PLANIFICACION; PLANIFICATION; PLANNING; SECHERESSE; SEQUIA
• ISBN: 9782853523905; 285352390X
• ISSN: 1016-121X

Cyprus is the third largest island of the Mediterranean Sea with an intense Mediterranean climate. The annual water availability is less than 500 m3 per capita including sea water desalination and re-use of the treated domestic effluents. The natural water resources are almost fully developed with a master plan whose implementation lasted for 30 years (1970-2000). During the period 1970-2000 Cyprus suffered from 8 drought events lasting 15 years, with rainfall below 85 per cent of the average. A reduction of 15 per cent of the rainfall brings an average reduction of the water resources of 30-40 per cent. To accommodate the drought and minimize its adverse effects Cyprus was forced to modify its water policy by the introduction of seawater desalination, and accelerate the construction of new water projects and the recycling of the domestic effluents and to intensify the use of water demand methods and finally to develop and implement drought mitigation plans. Cyprus prepared and implemented drought mitigation plans successfully. This paper presents the procedure followed for the preparation of drought mitigation plans in Cyprus