Sustainable water use in Cyprus

Abstract: Water scarcity exerts an impact on the socio-economic life and environment of Cyprus. Forinstance, agriculture productivity has decreased. Groundwater health has declined due to itsprimary use for decades. New ways of supplying water were now preferred. Desalinatedwater supplemented the domestic demand and alleviated the pressure of agricultural needs.Recycled water production increased, as well as its use, for irrigation purposes. Theidentification of best practices through literature and the water balance of Cyprus, conveyedpossible sustainable water management options. Climate change counteraction, behavioraladaptation and protection of water resources from pollutants were among the strategiessuggested to ensure water resource management sustainable. Three models were created forassisting decision making for sustainable water management and use. The first modelfocused on the reduction of evapotranspiration by 80% based on climate changecounteractive measures to fulfill the island’s water demand. The second model concentratedon the decrease and increase in water demand. The outcome of the second model showed thepossibility of lowering demand by avoiding excess consumption and increasing demand byincluding the entire area and population of Cyprus. The third model focused on thedistribution of water sources. The most promising scenario was the integration of all watersources. Cyprus water use remains unsustainable even with the Water DevelopmentDepartment efforts to monitor water resources and encourage consumers with several ways toreduce water use. With technologies, better monitoring, quantification and adapting wateravailability to water use the protection and preservation of water resources could be possible.This research purpose was to identify how did the water supply meet the water demand?How could water supply and water demand be considered sustainable? And, how couldscenarios assist in sustainable water use decision making?