The cabinet has approved plans to impose steeper fines on water wastage with the expectation that these would go into effect this summer, permanent secretary of the agriculture ministry Andreas Gregoriou said on Wednesday.

Current legislation is outdated and does not reflect the urgency of the present water crisis on the island, Gregoriou said.

The newly proposed bill, to be voted into effect before the scheduled parliamentary summer break, will increase regular fines for wasteful uses from €50 to €100, and to €300, for repeat offenders.

At the same time, watering pavements or roads with a hose remains a criminal offence, and the maximum prison sentence it carries is set to increase from three to six months with a maximum fine of €3,000 (up from €500) or both penalties concurrently.

The district government organisations (EOAs) are to be the designated issuing authorities, while the police and water department development officials are tasked to carry out inspections.

Earlier in the month Larnaca authorities were the first to announce their intention to implement the already existing legislation and follow through with fines for using hoses to wash pavements, roads, terraces, railings and cars.

The district has since proceeded with issuing at least 15 fines and 20 warnings.