Water Board To Cut Supply in Nicosia for Two Days

The Nicosia Water Board will cut water supplies for two days as of early tomorrow morning due to maintenance on a piping system 'crossing', so consumers are advised to fill up their water tanks, said Nicos Zambakides, chairman of the utility's board.

Water supplies to hospitals, schools and other essential services will not be interrupted, said Zambakides.

In comments to state radio, Zambakides said that water prices are set to rise by 10-15 percent just before summer if a Water Board proposals is approved by the Council of Ministers.

In related news, Phileleftheros newspaper reports that the Water Board is owed staggering amounts of money totalling 165 million euros from businesses, municipalities, communities, sports clubs and individuals. Out of the total, the sum of 105 million euros is considered high risk and the WB is considering writing them down as it is doubtful that it will ever collect on them.

The situation has become very difficult, because even if individuals pay their water bills to a municipality, the municipality does not pay the water board and in effect acts illegally.

The WB is not allowed to cut off the water, and in many cases, even if it writes off a  municipality's debt, there is no guarantee that the municipality will pay its future water bills, according to the report.

Message from CyprusNewsReport.com.  We can't do it without YOU. Please support our independence.

To make and read comments, become a full member of your news community, click here.