An assessment of solutions for combating water shortage in Cyprus: the views of citizens in the Province of Larnaka

Abstract

This paper investigates the views of citizens of the Province of Larnaka in Cyprus regarding solutions to combat the problem of water shortage in the area in which they live in. The research was carried out in 2008–2009 and used simple random sampling involving 426 individuals. According to the citizens, the most important solutions to the problem of water shortage are, in order of importance, desalination of seawater; less prodigal use of water; reduction of water losses from the transport network; construction of water dams; and reforestation of non-vegetated areas. These were followed by the construction of lake dams on agricultural land; installation of a water recycling system; construction of trenches in surfaces with steep slopes; protection and creation of agricultural evergreen plantations; use of seawater in pools; use of liquid urban waste for irrigation purposes; and construction of water tanks in houses to take advantage of rainwater. Less accepted solutions were deep tillage of arable land along contour lines; construction of terraces; rangeland management; and transporting water in tankers.