Cyprus’s Audit Office has demanded urgent reforms in water management as the island struggles with worsening scarcity. The report warns that poor oversight and weak systems threaten the nation’s ability to handle shortages caused by climate change. The Water Development Department (DWD), responsible for managing national reserves, now faces increased scrutiny over its handling of the crisis.
Gaps in Oversight and Revenue Control
Auditors found major flaws in water supply monitoring, metering accuracy, and billing verification. Two key intake points supplying 64 percent of Nicosia’s water lacked regular inspection. The DWD lacked access to water meter data from Limassol and the telemetry systems in Larnaca, creating uncertainty about billed quantities. Officials failed to investigate discrepancies and often left forms incomplete. The Water Billing System also showed weak data protection and inadequate access controls.
TAY recovered €147.7 million, including €69.2 million in old debts mainly from Local Authorities. Despite agreements to clear past dues, new debts kept rising. Another €58.1 million worth of water went unbilled to Turkish Cypriot consumers due to political decisions.
Calls for Stronger Enforcement and Strategic Planning
The report exposed serious delays in debt recovery and limited legal enforcement. Some cases saw no action at all. Private companies continued over-pumping without proper regulation, risking depletion in several regions. Businesses engaged in excessive use and non-payment, while key projects to ensure water adequacy in Polis Chrysochous and Tilleria faced unacceptable delays despite completed studies in 2022.
Auditors urged the government to strengthen control systems, enhance oversight, and adopt a proactive long-term strategy. They called for better coordination, faster decision-making, and sustainable planning to replace the patchwork of short-term responses now undermining Cyprus’s water security.
