Cyprus-Forum.com

[Globetrotter]

I found this interesting article in Cyprus Mail recently, and as a resident of the area, know it it true. Which only leaves a few questions, for example how can the local mukhtar be above the law? The Government has decided there would be not water cuts this year after all. And how does the mukhtar decide who has used too much water and needs to be cut off?

Could there really be more to the water cuts?

THE MUKHTAR of a Limassol district village has hit back at claims of discrimination, after a local resident complained about the frequent water cuts.

Briton Christopher Hemmant, who lives in Souni, told the Mail that over the past five weeks, there has only been one weekend where residents have had water for two consecutive days.

“Cuts can last for an entire day and there is never any notification.”

The 67-year-old said that it is only the Britons who are made to suffer.

“There are three new housing developments, where 99 per cent of residents are British and it’s here where the problem lies. The rest of the village, where the locals are situated, never seems to be cut off. This is totally unfair – there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another.”

Last December, the mukhtar’s office sent out a letter to all residents claiming another source of water had been secured for the village, meaning an end to water cuts.

“Nothing of the sort has happened to back up his claims,” said Hemmant.

“Whenever we are cut off, we have no water to drink and showering is like playing the lottery, as we never know when the reserves from the tanks on the roofs are going to run out.”

Village mukhtar Michalis Evagorou responded to the accusations by saying that “all residents are treated equally, regardless of nationality”

“We try and share what little water we are given by the government as equally as possible.”

According to Evagorou, 300 tonnes are made available every day for the 500 residents, with cuts taking place across the entire village and not in specific areas.

“I would say that the Britons are actually supplied with more water than the others as they are mainly concentrated in an area on a downward slope, but they are the biggest wasters, constantly watering their large gardens, which is illegal.”

He said that if a certain individual is using too much water, he or she will be cut off. He said cuts are only necessary for two months a year, at the height of summer, and urged people to economise.

“By 2010, the government has promised our water will be brought in from Limassol, which they claim will put an end to the problem.

“I therefore urge people to be patient.”


Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007

Well, today is day 3 without water....

Pia

[devil]

This report is nonsense.

'“We try and share what little water we are given by the government as equally as possible.”

'According to Evagorou, 300 tonnes are made available every day for the 500 residents, with cuts taking place across the entire village and not in specific areas.'

A little maths tells us that each resident has an average of 600 l/day. This is greater even that the average consumption in the USA, including areas where the desert is made to bloom, industrial consumption etc. The average for Europe is between 200 and 300 l/day (also including industry, agriculture, horticulture etc.), so where is the water going in Souni?

The WHO recommended minimum is 100 l/day/person but, in the late 1990s, we were rationed at one time to an average of 80 l/day, with water coming in for an hour or two every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon. The weekends were purgatory with minimal hygiene use.

'constantly watering their large gardens, which is illegal.' This is not true. Using a hose to do so is illegal but it is perfectly legal to use either a watering can or a fixed irrigation system (as most people do).

'although EU regulations state that fresh water must be supplied 24 hours per day' I am fairly sure that this is not true because it would allow no leeway for maintenance nor for repair if there were a mains leak. And what about if the water were accidentally contaminated, as happens from time to time? It would be utopian to expect a 24/7/52 service.

Intermittency is why most inhabitants have adequate buffer tanks. Why don't the inhabitants of Souni?

[Globetrotter]

We do have buffer tanks. But they only hold so much water - today is DAY 3 without water supply.

[Nikitas]

Devil,

Thank you for the interesting article. Seems the water wars have started, or rather they have been restarted in Cyprus.

Back in the early part of the 20th century my grandfather brought the water to his village, digging an underground tunnel several hundred yards long. The feat gave him a leading position in the village. The story illustrates the value of water to Cyprus. However, despite this value you do not see rain collection systems in Cyprus as you see on the Greek islands, most of which are more arid than Cyprus.

In the Cyclades island group almost all the old houses have cisterns to collect the winter rains. The water collected is considerable. To take an actual example, a house with 60 squre meter roof collects 10 cubic meters of water. I lived there one summer and we had enough water to bathe, do dishes and water a modest salad garden (grown in a shady spot). Drinking water was fetched from a nearby well.

One wonders if a similar approach, but with more sophisticated means to collect rainwater in the winter might not solve some of the water problems of Cyprus. It seems the shortage affects non potable water and rainwater would suit that use safely.

[devil]

We do have buffer tanks. But they only hold so much water - today is DAY 3 without water supply.

My buffer tank is 1000 l + the rooftop tank (not counting 8000 l of irrigation tanks). This could keep us (2 persons) going for a week, comfortably. If the rooftop tank approaches empty, water is pumped up from the buffer tank. The only problem, in the late 90s, when rationing was really severe, is that the water never reached the roof tank and the buffer tank filled to <¼ full. Yes, we have had 3 days without water: on one occasion 5 days, as the Monday supply was always the worst and Friday to Wednesday was tricky.

[devil]

Devil,

Thank you for the interesting article. Seems the water wars have started, or rather they have been restarted in Cyprus.

Back in the early part of the 20th century my grandfather brought the water to his village, digging an underground tunnel several hundred yards long. The feat gave him a leading position in the village. The story illustrates the value of water to Cyprus. However, despite this value you do not see rain collection systems in Cyprus as you see on the Greek islands, most of which are more arid than Cyprus.

In the Cyclades island group almost all the old houses have cisterns to collect the winter rains. The water collected is considerable. To take an actual example, a house with 60 squre meter roof collects 10 cubic meters of water. I lived there one summer and we had enough water to bathe, do dishes and water a modest salad garden (grown in a shady spot). Drinking water was fetched from a nearby well.

One wonders if a similar approach, but with more sophisticated means to collect rainwater in the winter might not solve some of the water problems of Cyprus. It seems the shortage affects non potable water and rainwater would suit that use safely.

I agree that the whole water situation on this island is ridiculous. The amount of water wasted far exceeds that which is used. I wrote about the incompetence of the authorities in a report I was mandated to write, mostly before I moved here permanently.

If roof and road water were collected and waste water were recycled, then desalination would not even be necessary. Only recently, a new road drain system was installed in this village. I estimated the road surface concerned was about 25,000 m2, on which 10,000 tonnes of water would fall per year, sufficient to irrigate a hectare of smallholdings or gardens, even allowing for evaporation. Where did this water go? Into a dried-up stream bed!

[Globetrotter]

[
My buffer tank is 1000 l + the rooftop tank (not counting 8000 l of irrigation tanks). This could keep us (2 persons) going for a week, comfortably. If the rooftop tank approaches empty, water is pumped up from the buffer tank. The only problem, in the late 90s, when rationing was really severe, is that the water never reached the roof tank and the buffer tank filled to <¼ full. Yes, we have had 3 days without water: on one occasion 5 days, as the Monday supply was always the worst and Friday to Wednesday was tricky.

Well, we do have a tank on the roof, as well as a hot water tank. I am not sure how much water it holds, but after a long weekend without water, even the hot water tank is empty. Today, Tuesday, there is a trickle of water coming out of the outside tab - but it does not even reach to the kitchen tab. The chances of our tank on the roof filling up are nil. However, while driving to work this morning I noticed someone at the local coffee shop, which is only 500m away, hosing down the terrace....

[tessintrnc]

Its the same in the North. In the hottest times - July & August, it's common to get water just a couple of times a week - (in some areas)!!! In other areas, like the middle of the village for instance, the water is constant. It is again, mainly foreigners who live in the outskirts of the villages. It IS discrimination, but having said that - why does the government give permission for all these new houses when the basic infastructure cant cope? I would be very reluctant to reduce my share of water just those these big villas can run 2 / 3 bathrooms etc etc. It is the authorities fault, they should install those new metres that charge X amount for the 1st few tonnes then have an increasing tariff so if you use loads of water you really pay a lot. No -one that I know apart from a few ex pats have ANY sort of winter rain collection system, and use of grey water (shower water etc) is unheard of.
Tess

[twinkle]

The penalties that are in force are not being implemented. Over the weekend I saw numerous women hosing down their verandas, patios, pavements and road.

As for the tariffs being increased for the amount of water you use, where we live in Aradippou, we have those bills already and pay increased charges for having a pool. We never fill it from the mains but from the guys with the large trucks full of water.

[devil]

I think the tariffs everywhere in the south increase with consumption, up to £1/tonne over 100 t/quarter.