Dams of Cyprus
Dams of Cyprus
Dams of Cyprus
Ministry of
of Agriculture,
Agriculture, Natural
Natural Resources
Resources and
and Environment
Environment
D A M S
O F
C Y P R U S
Dams of Cyprus
Dams of Cyprus
Nicosia, 2009
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................
Dams in Cyprus...............................................................................................................................................
Operation and Maintenance.................................................................................................................
Dam Safety...........................................................................................................................................
Dams of Cyprus (map)....................................................................................................................................
Table Large Dams of Cyprus...........................................................................................................................
Table Small Dams of Cyprus...........................................................................................................................
Kouklia Dam....................................................................................................................................................
Lythrodontas (Lower) Dam............................................................................................................................
Akrounta Dam................................................................................................................................................
Galini Dam.......................................................................................................................................................
Kalo Chorio (Klirou) Dam................................................................................................................................
Petra (Lower) Dam.........................................................................................................................................
Petra (Upper) Dam.........................................................................................................................................
Lythrodontas (Upper) Dam.............................................................................................................................
Kafizes Dam....................................................................................................................................................
Agios Loukas Dam...........................................................................................................................................
Kantou Dam....................................................................................................................................................
Pera Pedi Dam................................................................................................................................................
Pyrgos Dam....................................................................................................................................................
Trimiklini Dam.................................................................................................................................................
Agios Georgios Dam.......................................................................................................................................
Athalassa Dam................................................................................................................................................
Kioneli Dam.....................................................................................................................................................
Lefka Dam.......................................................................................................................................................
Morfou Dam...................................................................................................................................................
Panagia (Ammochostou) Dam........................................................................................................................
Prodromos Reservoir Dam.............................................................................................................................
Agia Napa Dam...............................................................................................................................................
Kanlikiogiou Dam............................................................................................................................................
Agros Dam......................................................................................................................................................
Argaka Dam....................................................................................................................................................
Kiti Dam (Tremithos)......................................................................................................................................
Paralimni Lake Dam........................................................................................................................................
Liopetri Dam...................................................................................................................................................
Mia Milia Dam.................................................................................................................................................
Ovgos Dam.....................................................................................................................................................
Agia Marina Dam............................................................................................................................................
Polemidia Dam................................................................................................................................................
Kalopanagiotis Dam........................................................................................................................................
Makrasyka Dam...............................................................................................................................................
Mavrokolympos Dam......................................................................................................................................
Pomos Dam....................................................................................................................................................
Agios Epiktitos Dam........................................................................................................................................
Akanthou Dam................................................................................................................................................
Germasoyeia Dam...........................................................................................................................................
Sygkrasis Dam.................................................................................................................................................
Lefkara Dam....................................................................................................................................................
Masari Dam.....................................................................................................................................................
Palaichori - Kampi Dam..................................................................................................................................
Kyperounta No 1 Dam....................................................................................................................................
Arakapas Dam.................................................................................................................................................
Lympia Dam....................................................................................................................................................
Agioi Vavatsinias No 1 Dam............................................................................................................................
Eptagoneia No 1 Dam....................................................................................................................................
Melini No 1 Dam.............................................................................................................................................
5
6
9
11
12
14
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
Pelendri Dam.................................................................................................................................................. 67
Chandria Dam................................................................................................................................................. 68
Agioi Vavatsinias Dam.................................................................................................................................... 69
Akapnou-Eptagoneia Dam.............................................................................................................................. 70
Eptagoneia No 3 Dam.................................................................................................................................... 71
Kato Mylos Dam.............................................................................................................................................. 72
Arakapas No 1 Dam........................................................................................................................................ 73
Asprokremmos Dam....................................................................................................................................... 74
Eptagoneia No 2 Dam.................................................................................................................................... 75
Xyliatos No 2 Dam.......................................................................................................................................... 76
Agridia Dam.................................................................................................................................................... 77
Kyperounta No 2 Dam.................................................................................................................................... 78
Lagoudera Dam.............................................................................................................................................. 79
Ora Dam.......................................................................................................................................................... 80
Agioi Vavatsinias No 2 Dam............................................................................................................................ 81
Arakapas No 2 Dam........................................................................................................................................ 82
Dierona Dam................................................................................................................................................... 83
Farmakas No 1 Dam....................................................................................................................................... 84
Farmakas No 2 Dam....................................................................................................................................... 85
Choirokoitia Dam............................................................................................................................................ 86
Dipotamos Dam.............................................................................................................................................. 87
Esso Galata Dam............................................................................................................................................. 88
Kalavasos Dam................................................................................................................................................ 89
Evretou Dam................................................................................................................................................... 90
Aradippou Dam............................................................................................................................................... 91
Achna Dam..................................................................................................................................................... 92
Kouris Dam..................................................................................................................................................... 93
Vyzakia Dam................................................................................................................................................... 94
Melini No 2 Dam............................................................................................................................................. 95
Odou No 1 Dam.............................................................................................................................................. 96
Odou No 2 Dam.............................................................................................................................................. 97
Arminou Dam................................................................................................................................................. 98
Tsakistra Dam................................................................................................................................................. 99
Tamassos Dam................................................................................................................................................ 100
Kannaviou Dam...............................................................................................................................................101
Klirou-Malounta-Akaki Dam............................................................................................................................ 102
Small Dams without photographs..................................................................................................................103
Introduction
The building of dams is directly linked to the development and progress of nations and peoples. The first
dams were constructed in the Middle East, where man first began to cultivate the earth and irrigate crops.
The systematic construction of dams began in the early and middle Bronze Age (2500 1600 BC).
Archaeological findings testify to the fact that dams were constructed as early as six thousand years ago.
The ruins of the Saad el Kafara dam near Cairo indicate that it was built in around 3000 BC. One of the best
known dams of ancient times is the Marib in the Yemen, which was built in 950 BC and was destroyed in an
earthquake in 530 AD. Specific mention is made of this dam in the Koran.
Dams in Cyprus
In Cyprus, the first dam - an earth-fill dam was built at Kouklia in 1900, and during the period 1945-1958,
15 more dams were built 13 gravity dams and 2 earth-fill dams. After the establishment of the Cyprus
Republic, the Water Development Department (WDD) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and
Environment began the construction of a large number of dams, most of which were of the earth-fill type.
This type of dam was chosen for financial reasons but also because of the nature of the topography and
geology of the region in which each dam was situated. The basic principle behind achieving the most costeffective way to construct a dam is to use materials found in the vicinity to the site, and for almost all the
major dams of Cyprus natural materials, such as clay, gravel etc were used.
At present Cyprus has over 100 dams, 56 of which are included in the Register of the International
Committee on Large Dams (ICOLD), of which Cyprus has been a member since 1969. Out of these large dams
18 are off-stream ponds. The total capacity of all the dams is approximately 327.5 million cubic metres of
water. All the large and small dams of Cyprus, together with relevant details, appear on the table on pages
14-17.
A dam in which the latest technology was used, is Kannaviou dam. Although the dam has a rockfill body, the
impermeable element consists of an upstream concrete deck made of reinforced concrete, for the
construction of which new innovative techniques were employed.
In Cyprus the dams are used mainly for water supply and irrigation. It is noted that there are no hydroelectric
dams in Cyprus because there is very little hydroelectric potential for exploitation.
Despite the fact that the current water policy has introduced other, non-conventional methods, of water
production, such as desalination of sea water and reuse of treated waste water, it is certain that dams will
remain a conventional back-up source of potable water.
The figures below present the use of water from different sources over the past 18 years, showing clearly
the important role of the dams. Moreover, taking into account the general objective of enhancing the water
balance with recycled water, it is anticipated that in the future certain dams may be used as reservoirs for
storage of recycled water after tertiary treatment.
With the new water policy, on the basis of which water supply will no longer rely on the vagaries of the
weather, it is expected that the dams will store significant quantities of water for use mainly for agriculture.
Apart from the fact that they have an important socio-economic role, the dams of Cyprus enrich the
landscape environmentally by contributing to the development of natural ecosystems and thus to the
sustainable development of the island.
The water levels in the reservoirs of the large dams as well as the inflow and outflow of water are monitored
and recorded systematically and are available to the public on www.moa.gov.cy/wdd
10
Dam Safety
The safe operation of the dams is paramount important not only because the dams are of great economic
importance for the island but also because most of them are situated upstream of large population areas,
including large urban centres. A factor that characterises the large dams of Cyprus and affects their
behaviour is the enormous variation of the water levels over time as well as the long periods during which
the dams remain empty or almost empty.
In order to ensure the safe operation of the dams, the Water Development Department has, since 2002,
been implementing a safety system which includes frequent inspections, systematic maintenance, and
monitoring of instrumentation for the most important dams of Cyprus. Owing to the relatively young age
of the dams of Cyprus, they usually incorporate instrumentation systems which are able to record both
externally and internally, useful parameters for analysing this behaviour such as horizontal/vertical
displacements, pore pressures, total stresses, etc. State of the art digital accelerographs have been installed
in the largest dams of Cyprus.
The safety system is based on systematic maintenance, frequent inspections by the Inspecting Engineer who
has been appointed by the Director, as well as inspections by an independent expert (this measure will be
implemented in the future) monitoring and analysis of the instrumentation records and the taking of the
necessary corrective measures if and when required.
11
DAMS OF CYPRUS
12
13
14
15
16
17
4.545.000 m 3
Kouklia Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
small dam
1900
earthfill
Purpose:
recharge
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
6m
-
Length:
Capacity:
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
18
32.000 m 3
Category:
River:
small dam
Koutsos (Gialias)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1945
gravity
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
15.000m2
Water-Shed:
8,70km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
11m
42m
3.000m3
34m
70m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
19
23.000 m 3
Akrounta Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
small dam
Germasoyeia
1947
gravity
Purpose:
irrigations
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
7m
-
Length:
Capacity:
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
20
23.000 m 3
Galini Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
small dam
Kampos
1947
gravity
Purpose:
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
irrigation
5.000m2
25,50km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
11m
19m
1.000m3
13m
17m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
21
82.000 m 3
Category:
River:
small dam
Akaki (Serrachis)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1947
gravity
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
13.000m2
Water-Shed:
23,40km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity
9m
37m
2.000m3
23m
44m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
22
32.000 m 3
Category:
small dam
Purpose:
River:
Atsas
Reservoir surface:
Year of Operation:
1948
Water-Shed:
Type:
gravity
irrigation
8.000m2
37,10km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
9m
36m
2.000m3
21m
32m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
23
23.000 m 3
Category:
small dam
Purpose:
River:
Atsas
Reservoir surface:
Year of Operation:
1951
Water-Shed:
Type:
gravity
irrigation
4.000m2
33,70km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
9m
35m
2.000m3
31m
52m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
24
32.000 m 3
Category:
River:
small dam
Koutsos (Gialias)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1952
gravity
Purpose:
Reservoir surface:
Water-shed:
10.000m2
3,00km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
10m
21m
2.000m3
19m
13m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
25
113.000 m 3
Kafizes Dam
Category:
River:
large dam
Xeros (Morfou)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1953
gravity
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
20.000m2
Water-Shed:
38,50km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
23m
26m
3.000m3
19m
53m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
26
455.000 m 3
Category:
River:
Year Operation:
Type:
small dam
1955
earthfill
Purpose:
recharge
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
3m
-
Length:
Capacity:
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
27
34.000 m 3
Kantou Dam
Category:
River:
Tabakhana (Kouris)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1956
gravity
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
12.000m2
Water-Shed:
7,50km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
15m
53m
3.000m3
31m
59m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
28
55.000 m 3
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
large dam
Kryos (Kouris)
1956
gravity
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
12.000m2
Water-Shed:
10,00km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
22m
66m
4.000m3
37m
106m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
29
285.000 m 3
Pyrgos Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
large dam
Katouris
1957
gravity
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
30.000m2
Water-Shed:
13,50km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
22m
66m
8.000m3
30m
120m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
30
340.000 m 3
Trimiklini Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
large dam
Kouris
1958
gravity
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
23.000m2
Water-Shed:
51,50km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
33m
76m
6.000m3
31m
59m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
31
90.000 m 3
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
small dam
1962
earthfill
Purpose:
recharge
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
6m
-
Length:
Capacity:
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
32
791.000 m 3
Athalassa Dam
Category:
River:
large dam
Kalogyros (Pediaios)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1962
Earthfill
Purpose:
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
irrigation
230.000m2
34,00km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
18m
415m
88.000m3
240m
47m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
33
1.045.000 m 3
Kioneli Dam
Category:
River:
large dam
Armyros (Pediaios)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1962
earthfill
Purpose:
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
irrigation
276.000m2
26,00km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
15m
196m
46.000m3
57m
170m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
34
368.000 m 3
Lefka Dam
Category:
River:
large dam
Setrachos (Marathasa)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1962
gravity
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
45.000m2
Water-Shed:
54,60km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
35m
149m
20.000m3
31m
246m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
35
1.879.000 m 3
Morfou Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
large dam
Serrachis
1962
earthfill
Purpose:
irrigation, recharge
Reservoir surface:
480.000m2
Water-Shed:
458,00km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
13m
1.400m
387.000m3
450m
680m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
36
45.000 m 3
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
small dam
1962
earthfill
Purpose:
recharge
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
7m
-
Length:
Capacity:
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
37
122.000 m 3
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
small dam
Off-stream
1962
earthfill
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
26.000m2
Water-Shed:
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
10m
74.000m3
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
38
55.000 m 3
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
small dam
1963
earthfill
Purpose:
recharge
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
8m
-
Length:
Capacity:
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
39
1.113.000 m 3
Kanlikiogiou Dam
Category:
River:
large dam
Chinar (Pediaios)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1963
earthfill
Purpose:
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
irrigation
390.000m2
33,00km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
19m
297m
52.000m3
27m
110m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
40
99.000 m 3
Agros Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
large dam
Limnatis
1964
earthfill
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
15.000m2
Water-Shed:
0,50km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
26m
171m
53.000m3
51m
6m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
41
990.000 m 3
Argaka Dam
Category:
large dam
Purpose:
River:
Makounta
Reservoir surface:
Year of Operation:
Type:
1964
rockfill
Water-Shed:
irrigation
107.000m2
50,00km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
41m
137m
134.000m3
146m
280m3/s
Designed by: Howard Humphreys & Sons UK Constructed by: Nowlem and Ridgeways UK
42
1.614.000 m 3
Category:
large dam
Purpose:
River:
Tremithos
Reservoir surface:
360.000m2
Water-Shed:
130,00km2
Year of Operation:
Type:
1964
earthfill
irrigation
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
22m
1.075m
173.000m3
150m
610m3/s
Designed by: Il Nuovo Castoro, Italy Constructed by: Water Development Department
43
1.365.000 m 3
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
small dam
1964
earthfill
Purpose:
recharge
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
1m
-
Length:
Capacity:
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
44
340.000 m 3
Liopetri Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
large dam
Potamos
1964
earthfill
Purpose:
recharge
Reservoir surface:
74.000m2
Water-Shed:
37,00km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
18m
540m
55.000m3
12m
90m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
45
355.000 m 3
Category:
River:
large dam
Simeas (Pediaios)
Year of Operation:
Type:
1964
earthfill
Purpose:
irrigation
Reservoir surface:
68.000m2
Water-Shed:
6,80km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
22m
125m
53.000m3
42m
24m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
46
845.000 m 3
Ovgos Dam
Category:
River:
Year of Operation:
Type:
large dam
Ovgos
1964
earthfill
Purpose:
irrigation, recharge
Reservoir surface:
Water-Shed:
260.000m2
0,20km2
Embankment:
Height:
Length:
Volume:
Spillway:
Length:
Capacity:
16m
720m
147.000m3
264m
780m3/s
Designed by: Water Development Department Constructed by: Water Development Department
47