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The report examines the impact of the Turkey-North Cyprus water pipeline, an innovative project pumping water from the Taurus Mountains to North Cyprus, within the context of increasing water scarcity in the Eastern Mediterranean. It highlights a systemic failure in water governance in North Cyprus, characterized by short-term political tactics, lack of coordination, and unsustainable groundwater extraction leading to salinisation. While the pipeline provides a significant new resource, the authors argue that without comprehensive reform—including the creation of an independent regulatory board, better data collection, and bi-communal cooperation—the project may not ensure long-term climate resilience. The report suggests adopting OECD principles of water governance to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and trust.

• The Eastern Mediterranean is experiencing a warming trend and decreasing precipitation, which is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of droughts and reduce crop yields, potentially lowering net profits by up to 40% by mid-century for rain-fed crops in Cyprus.
• Water use in North Cyprus is currently unsustainable, with an annual demand of 105-110 million cubic metres exceeding the total annual freshwater resources of 90 million cubic metres by up to a third.
• Overuse and lack of regulation have led to the partial depletion of all aquifers in North Cyprus, with the Kyrenia, Famagusta, and Morphou coastal aquifers all suffering from salt water intrusion.
• Water governance in North Cyprus is described as dysfunctional, ad hoc, and focused on short-term tactics rather than long-term strategic planning, partly due to the contradictions of unrecognised statehood.
• The Turkey-North Cyprus water pipeline transfers water from the Anamur river in Turkey via an 80 km undersea floating pipeline to the Panagra dam, intending to provide 75 million cubic metres of water annually.
• The management of the new water pipeline has been contentious, with disputes over whether it should be privatised to improve efficiency through pricing or managed by municipalities to maintain local control.
• EU assistance in North Cyprus is constrained by the EU's recognition of the Republic of Cyprus's sovereignty over the whole island, which prevents the EU from supporting the establishment of official state-like environmental agencies in the north.
• The report recommends the creation of an independent, non-ministerial water management board to ensure regulatory integrity, transparency, and the oversight of private sector operators.
• To enhance sustainability, the report suggests diversifying water sources by constructing a reverse osmosis desalination plant powered by renewable energy, such as concentrated solar power.
• Bi-communal water governance initiatives, such as the New Nicosia wastewater treatment plant, are highlighted as successful models for building trust and managing shared resources across the Green Line.

APA

Mason, M., & Bryant, R. (n.d.). Layout 1. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f9eae781-d566-441d-a98e-7b9299e628f0/Water technology and sustainability in north Cyprus ENGLISH.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Mason, Michael, and Rebecca Bryant. Layout 1. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f9eae781-d566-441d-a98e-7b9299e628f0/Water technology and sustainability in north Cyprus ENGLISH.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mason |first1=Michael |last2=Bryant |first2=Rebecca |title=Layout 1 |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f9eae781-d566-441d-a98e-7b9299e628f0/Water technology and sustainability in north Cyprus ENGLISH.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{masonndlayout, author = {Mason, Michael and Bryant, Rebecca}, title = {{Layout 1}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f9eae781-d566-441d-a98e-7b9299e628f0/Water technology and sustainability in north Cyprus ENGLISH.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }