Trouble in the pipeline?
Fresh fears of a mid-summer water shortage
WATER levels at the country’s main Geçitköy dam have dropped by more than a third over the past month — prompting fresh fears of a midsummer shortage with repairs to the damaged supply pipeline from Turkey still not underway.
The current level of water held in the reservoir is estimated at 9.3 million cubic metres – down more than four million from the last measurement in April.
The figure has prompted the head of the country’s municipalities to warn that, with peak demand yet to come, the reservoir could be completely dry by the end of July or beginning of August.
No water has been piped in since the 80km undersea pipeline running from Anamur was damaged on January 10. Since then, water reserves have fallen to their lowest level since October 2015.
The Turkish Water Works Authority (DSİ) which manages the dam, pledged to start repairs this month, but spokesman Levent Yıldırım told Cyprus
Today this week, that a contract for the work had yet to be signed. He said an official tender was completed on May 28, adding: “We expect the contract with the firm to be signed within 20 days and for work to begin.”
He said work was continuing to construct 10 types of HDPE 100 (High Density Polyethylene Pipes) that will each be 500m long.
“Work is continuing to construct a factory to make the pipes at the Mersin — Taşucu port, with the process continuing to purchase special parts and pontoons for the project,” he said.
CONCERNS
Asked about concerns in North Cyprus that the water was running out, Mr Yıldırım said: “A construction plan has been prepared which takes into consideration weather conditions, the [Covid-19] outbreak and the water level at the Geçitköy barrage. All measures have been taken to complete all construction work before water at the barrage runs out without any problems, and in a short period of time.”
However, Cyprus Turkish Municipalities Union head, and Güzelyurt mayor, Mahmut Özçınar said he was “alarmed” by the statement. Mr Özçınar said consumers were expected to use about 5 million cubic metres per month — which could leave the reservoir completely dry by the end of July or beginning of August.
“If the contract is going to be signed within 20 days and work is going to begin — this is cutting it very short, because we anticipate that the water in the dam will run out by middle of July to early August at current projections. This is because of increasing evaporation levels and the increase usage of water by consumers as temperatures rise.
“The government needs to have a backup plan in case of any issues and urgent meetings should be held to discuss how municipalities can revert back to using local water reserves.”
In April, Mr Özçınar suggested a limit to water usage during the lockdown and prime minister, Ersin Tatar said he would “not want to even think about what can happen” if water from Turkey did not begin to be piped to the country by August.