Philenews

Cyprus Dams: Recent Rains Offer Relief but Drought Threat Remains

Published February 16, 2026, 12:18
Cyprus Dams: Recent Rains Offer Relief but Drought Threat Remains

Recent heavy rainfall has provided a significant, although not sufficient, boost to water reserves in Cyprus's major dams. A total of 9.2 million cubic meters of water flowed in, with half going to the dams of the Southern Conveyor, vital for the water supply of large areas of the island. However, experts warn that the situation remains critical and the threat of drought has not been eliminated. This year's water inflow, reaching 28.4 million cubic meters, exceeds the levels of the previous two years (24.7 mcm in 2023 and 18.6 mcm in 2024), but the overall dam capacity remains low, at 17.2%, compared to 25.9% last year. The Kouris dam, the largest in Cyprus, is only 14.5% full, with 3.9 million cubic meters transferred from the Arminou dam to boost it. Controlling and rationally managing water remains crucial, as the total amount stored in the dams amounts to 50 million cubic meters, compared to 75.4 million cubic meters during the same period last year. The inflow in January and February shows improvement compared to the dry autumn, but the gap from previous years is significant. While the data is better than the previous two years, the situation remains worrying. Authorities emphasize the need for continued monitoring and measures to avoid drought, as ensuring adequate water supply is a priority for Cyprus.