Cyprus: Three desalination units by 2013

The Water Development Department of Cyprus believes that building three new seawater desalination facilities by 2013 will solve the island's potable water shortage. The first unit, in Limassol, will be finished in three years, followed by plants in Paphos and Famagusta. Meanwhile, to cope with the current drought, Minister of Agriculture Fotis Fotiou announced that his ministry was constructing a temporary plant to produce 20,000 cubic meters of drinkable water per day. Reservoirs are only at 18% of capacity and Fotiou expects reserves to give out by April 2008.