22 May 2025 - Either we don’t have water or it’s contaminated!
The recent statement by Mayor Kourios about the use of different methodologies by the Republic of Cyprus and the British Bases – both for collecting and analysing samples – raises legitimate concerns about the reliability of the data given to the general public. Even more worrying is the admission, by a representative of the Health Services on the “Politis” radio station, that the samples are not collected from the same locations as those of the Bases.
So how can the results be compared in a reliable way? Who can citizens trust?
For citizens, the real question is simple: is the water at Lady’s Mile clean and safe, or not? And if we cannot have a clear answer, then the problem is not only environmental – it is also institutional.
Volt seeks answers to critical questions that seem to be systematically avoided:
How do coastal properties in the area manage their wastewater? Do they have sealed storage systems that are emptied regularly or are septic tanks still used that potentially infiltrate the marine environment?
What measures are taken for rainwater drainage that may be contaminated, given that many homes and properties in Limassol and Kourion are not connected to the sewage network?
What are the specific and binding timetables for the expansion of the sewage network to all developments in the area?
Experts have repeatedly warned that unauthorised construction, haphazard developments and urban planning deviations will have tangible consequences – not only aesthetic or functional, but also environmental, affecting both groundwater and surface water that end up in Limassol Bay.
We demand:
Transparency with immediate publication of sampling results and a common protocol between all parties involved for the measurement and analysis of samples.
Audit and publication of the wastewater management status of every tourist or commercial property in the area.
Immediate acceleration of procedures for the full connection of all developments to the sewage network, with timetables to be adhered to.
Strict implementation of environmental and urban planning legislation, without exceptions for anyone – whether public bodies or private interests.
The environment is not a luxury – it is a fundamental right. And its protection cannot be subject to the pressures of tourist interests or become a victim of institutional indifference.