Cyprus Proposes More Active Use of Rainwater to Combat Drought

Cyprus has been facing water shortage problems for many years. Drought periods are becoming more frequent, reservoirs are emptying faster, and the country's dependence on desalination plants is constantly growing.

Experts note that a significant portion of the water that falls annually as rain simply ends up in storm drains and then in the sea, remaining unused.

Specialists believe that systematic rainwater harvesting could be a relatively simple and economical way to mitigate the water deficit problem.

The essence of the solution is that any surface where rain falls can be used to collect water. Roofs of buildings, courtyards, parking lots, and public spaces can be equipped with systems that direct rainwater into special tanks.

In private homes, such a system can be used for watering gardens, cleaning, washing cars, or in toilet cisterns, which significantly reduces the consumption of drinking water.

Similar solutions can be applied at the city level. Municipalities can install rainwater harvesting systems on public buildings, schools, parks, and sports facilities, using it then to irrigate green areas.

Another solution is the creation of permeable surfaces on sidewalks and parking lots, which allow water to soak into the ground and replenish underground aquifers.

Experts believe that implementing such solutions requires political will and sound planning. Authorities could mandate the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in new buildings and provide financial incentives for their installation in existing ones.

While rainwater harvesting will not solve the water deficit problem entirely, it can become an important part of a comprehensive strategy alongside water conservation, reuse of treated wastewater, and more efficient water resource management.