SAVE WATER SUMMIT

29 -30 June, Nicosia.

SAVE (Supporting Activities that Value the Environment) is a USAID funded NGO working Cyprus - wide.

Colin Mulcahy attended  the conference which brought together NGOs, officials and practitioners in water management.

The organisers and participants welcomed the presence of a BRS representative and said that it was important for Civil Society to bring pressure to bear on the Government to bring about change.

The conference followed 4 months of intensive preparation and delegates reported that rainfall in Cyprus had dropped from about 4oomm in the early 90's to 370mm early this century and was now at about 200mm. Aquifer levels were very low and water was being extracted 40% faster than it was being replenished. 80% of water in TRNC is used in agriculture.

Many views were represented at the meeting, from those who believed that, with lowered demand, reuse of water, improved infrastructure such as a watertight ring main, improved efficiency in agriculture and a fully empowered water authority to those who called for desalination and a pipeline from Turkey.

Working parties agreed that a central authority was needed to take over from the 5 departments currently dealing with water matters. They also agreed on harmonisation of water tariffs, better control and research and better advice for farmers. A number of expert studies were called for.

The Summit will be producing a number of papers with proposals for the Government. The BRS will be supporting reform.