THE HEAD of the Nicosia Water Board, Nicos Zambakides, said that the next water bills to be paid by consumers would reflect a 15 per cent increase. Zambakides said that the Nicosia Water Board needed to raise prices “to keep the body viable”.He said there would be no more increases this year but added that eventually prices would be raised because of a 2010 EU directive stating that water prices should reflect production costs.Water Boards will have a six-month grace period as of when the House amends the relevant legislation “but inevitably part of the cost will be passed on to the consumer,” Zambakides said.He added that with the price changes across the island, the Nicosia Water Board would become “the cheapest provider, even if marginally... 7 comments

AUTHOR Andri Polydorou - whose books have been adapted into an acclaimed local TV series – yesterday started an indefinite hunger strike outside the House, protesting against conditions of Nicosia’s outpatients’ department, which is still operating on the grounds of the old hospital.Polydorou said in a statement that her husband, Doros, a general surgeon who was heading Nicosia’s outpatients' clinic was removed from his post after he protested against the conditions.Last July, Doros Polydorou asked the Health Ministry to repair the building, switch water supply because the water was polluted and “smelled”, and examine the issue of doctors’ not getting paid for working on Saturdays, Andri Polydorou said... 1 comment

WATER consumption in Nicosia was up on Monday night after consumers were warned of shortages yesterday and today due to maintenance work on a pipe, head of the Nicosia water board Nicos Zambakides said yesterday.The Tersefanou water pipe was cut off on Monday night.“If we go by last night’s consumption [Monday], it seems people must have put washing machines on, as there was consumption in the range of 1,750 cubic metres at around 9pm, which is unusual for the winter period,” said Zambakides.“This means people took heed of our messages and did everything they needed to do (on Monday).” Use is usually around 1,000 cubic metres... 2 comments

NICOSIA residents are being warned to be frugal with their water usage, as supply will be interrupted until Thursday due to works on the Tersefanou water pipe.Furthermore, the capital’s state primary schools will have no water, so parents are being told make sure their children bring their own bottles.The head of the Nicosia Water Board, Nicos Zambakides, yesterday also announced that water hikes were expected before the summer.“The works are expected to take around two days to complete,” said Zambakides. “So as a precaution, we are calling on consumers to be a bit frugal for the next 72 hours. But we hope that the works will be complete sooner... 1 comment

 Torrential rain and hail swept through Larnaca and other parts of Cyprus today, flooding roads and trapping drivers in their cars.The Larnaca fire service received many calls for help from stranded drivers and people whose basement  had flooded.Hail also fell in the capital while fog blanketed many areas around the island.Police warned motorists to be extra careful and also urged people to avoid unnecessary movement on the roads.2012 is on track to be the wettest year in more than a decade after record January rains and - with one more day still to go - the second highest February reservoir inflow since 2003... 7 comments

DESPITE record rains, water bills could rise by as much as 15 per cent by 2013 to cover the cost of newly built desalination plants, it emerged this weekHad it not been for the weather, which has filled reservoirs to more than 84 per cent capacity, the Water Development Department (WDD) may have had to leave three pricey desalination plants running.As it is, currently only the Larnaca plant is running, at around half capacity.“Now that we have sufficient rainfall the Larnaca desalination plant has reduced output from 60,000 cubic metres to 25,000 cubic metres,” Agriculture Minister Sophoclis Aletraris told the Sunday Mail, adding that the remaining Paphos, Moni and Dhekelia desalination plants are offline... 14 comments

CONSUMERS are being warned to check water vending machines for the health certificates to ensure safe consumption after it emerged there are a number operating without licences and checks.The director of the Health Ministry’s Health Services, Christos Christou, yesterday issued the warning after reports claimed some machines were so eroded, they almost certainly put public health at risk.Christou also urged consumers to ensure the taps on the machines have a protective cover, otherwise they could be putting their health at risk.He explained that there was a specific law for water vending machines and water transport vehicles, passed in 2004, with strict health and safety regulations... 3 comments