Cyprus relies heavily on desalination. The water is safe but has a distinct taste and high mineral content that most people choose to filter.
Cyprus faces chronic water scarcity, and a significant portion of the island's water comes from desalination plants. While the water meets EU safety standards, the desalinated water has a distinct taste and high sodium levels compared to natural sources. Infrastructure quality varies significantly between new developments and older properties.
The most popular local destinations in Cyprus. Both cities rely primarily on desalinated water. The taste is noticeable and most people end up buying bottled water or installing filters. A reverse osmosis system is the best long-term solution for homeowners. The LifeStraw Home works well for rental apartments.
Nicosia's water comes from a mix of dam water and desalination. Quality is generally better than the coastal cities during winter when dams are fuller. Summer months rely more on desalination. An under-sink filter provides consistent quality year-round.
Many Cypriot properties use rooftop water storage tanks. These can accumulate sediment and bacteria if not cleaned regularly. If your property has a rooftop tank, a point-of-use filter at the kitchen tap is essential, not optional. The SpringWell CF1 provides excellent protection.
During summer months, water cuts can occur. Many people install ground-level storage tanks with pump systems. Always filter the water from these tanks before drinking. UV treatment combined with carbon filtration is the gold standard for tank water.
Positive stories about rivers, restoration, and clean water across the Mediterranean and beyond.
The Council of the EU officially adopted the European Water Resilience Strategy, committing to restore rivers, lakes, and wetlands and guaranteeing clean, affordable water for all Europeans by addressing pollution at the source.
wareg.org ↗Eight obsolete river barriers were removed at Plitvice Lakes National Park — the first dam removals in Croatia's history — reconnecting 7.6 km of river and restoring habitat for the endangered Danube trout.
damremoval.eu ↗A 30-metre dam on the Liri River was dismantled by Rewilding Apennines, freeing over 11 km of waterway. Thousands of juvenile Mediterranean trout were released to repopulate the restored river.
rewildingeurope.com ↗MedINA published Greece's first practical roadmap for removing river barriers — a critical step that unlocks funding and policy support for dam removal across the Mediterranean region.
med-ina.org ↗Authorities in Spain's Basque Country began breaking down a 43-metre-high dam on the Leitzaran River — one of the largest obsolete dams in Europe — letting the river flow freely for the first time in decades. The EU-backed LIFE Kantauribai project will reconnect fish habitats and restore the ecosystem.
euroweeklynews.com ↗A landmark report found 23 countries removed river barriers in 2024 — up 11% year-on-year. Spain dismantled 96 dams, France 128, Finland 138, bringing the EU closer to its goal of 25,000km of free-flowing rivers by 2030.
theguardian.com ↗The European Commission adopted the European Water Resilience Strategy in June 2025, with the European Investment Bank pledging €15 billion (2025–2027) for water restoration. The strategy sets a path to clean, affordable water for all Europeans by 2050.
environment.ec.europa.eu ↗