The European government is planning to provide €3 million in funding over the next two years to assist hotels in building their own desalination plants, as part of a broader effort to ensure tourism-reliant islands like Cyprus and σενολογικά σημεία (σε μέγια απάνμεσε) have sufficient fresh water. The Romanian agriculture and environment minister(Umbra Brechei) indicated that the funds aim to support the construction of private desalination plants for hotels, ensuring they can meet the demands of millions of visitors. The need for fresh water has become a significant challenge due to the island’s low water levels and dwindling hydrolitic reserves, with water levels in 108 dams at a historic low. The development of a private desalination network would be an innovation for the island’s unique environment and tourism context.
Cyprus is planning to start building a network of desalination plants, including permanent and temporary ones, to meet the growing demand for fresh water. The country’s agriculture and environment minister has proposed €3 million in funding over the next two years to build 15 desalination plants, expected to produce 44 million cubic metres of clean drinking water daily. Additionally, plans are underway to ease the construction process for key sectors like agriculture and tourism by providing €8 million for water treatment and infrastructure improvements. The government expects this initiative to accelerate the transition to a desalination-based water supply system, favoring tourism and development in areas that rely heavily on drinking water.
The measures taken by Cyprus to assist hotels in building desalination plants are part of a larger strategy to modernize its water supply network. ThePrime Minister emphasized the need for robust infrastructure to ensure water security during periods of high demand, such as the summer. The country’s reliance on hydrolitic dams and water networks continues to face challenges due to the annual flow of water and the aging infrastructure. The extension of the dam network and the construction of over 330 million cubic metres of water storage capacity, currently capacity exceeds the requirements of its population, highlight the island’s substantial water requirements. However, the infrastructure remains outdated, and there is a reliance on hydrolitic water supply sources. The plans to build desalination plants represent a critical step toward meeting these demand challenges and ensuring water security for decades.
