In a rare event today, water fell from the sky over Nicosia.
All joking aside, Cyprus has been faced with unusual weather this year with extremely hot summer temperatures and low rainfall. In a recent article by in the Cyprus Mail, the total calculation of water that has been retained in the island’s fresh water reservoirs is under 9% of the total collection at this point in the 2009/2010 season. (Note that this data is representative of the Republic of Cyprus or southern part of the island)
This is a substantial problem for a country that has already had years of potable water problems. Last summer, during the outrageously hot July and August temperatures, the utility company rationed drinking water to residences in some parts of the capital to only a few days of the week (other sources such as public water dispensers are available but cost a small fee). Meanwhile, turf grass is still found in many yards and public open spaces and many people wash the concrete stoop and walk outside of their suburban homes on a daily basis, which only further drain the water needs of these communities.
The explanation for the low totals this year is that the rainfall has accumulated primarily along the coast and an extremely low amount of precipitation has fallen in the mountains and the valley where the capital lies (the Mesaoria plain). Although the Cyprus Institute continues to work on a solar powered desalination project, I fear that this is only one step in a direction to save the island from becoming an unlivable desert in the middle of the Mediterranean.
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