Nicosia - In the wake of recent heavy rainfall, Cypriot authorities on Friday eased water rationing arrangements, to signal the end of a two-year drought on the holiday island.
Agriculture Minister Michalis Polynikis announced that Cyprus households will start receiving an "improved supply" after a partial lifting of restrictions takes effect of April 13.
"Certainly cuts will be eased," and though rationing will not be abolished altogether, all the island's water boards are in position to meet household demand, Polynikis told reporters.
The decision followed a high-level meeting of all state water agencies chaired by Polynikis who said the most pressing problem now is to find more water for irrigation purposes.
"There is an improvement in supply and a significant increase in desalinated water output. From 2010 we will not be dependent on rainfall, so my concern is water made available to farmers."
The situation got so desperate last summer that the government struck a €40-million (about R million) deal to ship water from Greece.
The government has drawn up a long-term strategy, including more desalination plants, increased output from the two existing ones and promoting water conservation.
Reservoirs in the government-controlled southern part of divided Cyprus have risen to 27.2 percent of capacity, or 79 000 million cubic metres, up from only 11.4 percent the same time last year, according to agriculture ministry figures.