Paphos People

Water cuts start tomorrow
By Jacqueline Theodoulou

WATER cuts will kick in from tomorrow, with consumers supplied water three times a week for around 12 hours, the Nicosia Water Board decided yesterday.

The only establishments that will be entitled to constant water supply will be state hospitals.

The decisions were made based on the government’s announcement that it would be cutting water supply to all of the island’s water boards by 30 per cent.

Taking into consideration that the restrictions will be the same for all towns, municipalities and communities, the Nicosia Water Board announced that:
l As of tomorrow, Friday, March 28, the 43 areas covered by the Nicosia water board’s system will be supplied with water three times a week for around 12 hours, during the afternoon hours on one day and the morning hours the next. “It will all depend on the consumers’ behaviour,” the announcement added yesterday.

“Regarding Sundays, the Board will supply water to all consumers depending on the quantities they have available in their water tanks.”

l The only consumers who will have constant water supply will be state hospitals.

“Remaining consumers, including industries, hotels, embassies etc, will be treated equally.”

l Consumers will be continuously informed on further developments through press announcements, the internet, pre-recorded messages on the water board’s telephone line and water bills.

“Apart from the aforementioned and taking into consideration the need to economise water consumption, the Nicosia Water Board is sending out a plea to consumers to help in any way they can by restricting the use of precious water and especially by not rushing to install a double water tank, which will be at the expense of the rest of the consumers,” the announcement concluded.

The island’s water boards had yesterday asked the Water Development Department for an extension before the cuts started taking place so they could move ahead with the necessary programming and informing consumers.

But the decision to move ahead with the cuts was made after a lengthy meeting yesterday afternoon, held to determine which services would be deemed vital enough to receive continuous water supply. In the end, only state hospitals were exempted from the cuts.

The Nicosia Water Board’s director, Nicos Zambakides, had earlier pointed out that “depending on the number of services that will be considered vital, this could leave limited quantities for the rest of the consumers”.

He added, “Another problem we are working on is with the refugee estates, whose water systems are ancient; they have huge problems even when there is constant supply, so you can imagine what will happen when there are cuts.”

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou was keen to underline the government and President Demetris Christofias’ intention to deal effectively with the water problem, “both because there are pressing needs and because the problem is a continuous one for Cyprus”.

Stephanou said all measures and positions had been put forwards during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting and it was decided that immediate measures needed to be taken to deal with the current problem, while long-term solutions had to be found.




Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

_________________
poolpeople
aka
the golden hi-lux
aka
zeusfc