Cyprus faces chronic water scarcity and climate vulnerability and is among the EU countries with the lowest water availability per capita. Its semi-arid climate makes it prone to frequent and prolonged droughts. In recent decades, there has been a significant decline in precipitation, leading to the overuse of groundwater and the salinisation of aquifers. Meanwhile, rapid urban growth and tourism have placed further strain on the island’s limited water resources. Urban municipalities like Lakatamia are on the front line of these challenges.
Maintaining public green spaces under water scarcity is particularly difficult, as landscaping has traditionally relied on precious freshwater. At the same time, urbanisation has increased the proportion of impervious surfaces, worsening runoff and flash flooding when heavy rains occur. These twin pressures—drought stress and flood risk—highlight the need for integrated solutions. Lakatamia’s climate change adaptation (CCA) efforts were shaped by this context, focusing on water conservation, enhanced resilience to dry spells, and sustainable rainwater management in an increasingly dry and warming climate.
The initiative in Lakatamia was implemented as part of the EU-funded LIFE UrbanProof project (Climate Proofing Urban Municipalities), which ran from 2016 to 2021. UrbanProof aimed to enhance the climate resilience of medium-sized municipalities in the Mediterranean through tailored climate adaptation actions (CAA) and practical pilot projects. Alongside partner cities in Greece and Italy, Lakatamia was selected as one of Cyprus’s demonstration sites, focusing on water reuse and sustainable urban greening in the face of intensifying drought and water scarcity.
The main goal of the Lakatamia pilot was to reduce reliance on potable water and groundwater for public space irrigation by establishing a safe, efficient, and replicable wastewater reuse system. In parallel, the project sought to demonstrate how integrated spatial management, smart design, and nature-based solutions (NbS) could address both water conservation and stormwater management, while raising public awareness of sustainable practices. Several integrated actions were implemented:
- Irrigation network with recycled water: A roundabout’s new irrigation system was connected to a pipeline supplying tertiary-treated municipal wastewater. This high-quality reclaimed water (disinfected to meet strict safety standards) is now used instead of potable water to irrigate vegetation.
- Rainwater harvesting and storage system: A system was designed and built, including an artificial well, open irrigation channels, and an underground reservoir, all powered by solar energy.
- Permeable hardscaping: The roundabout’s hardscape was reconstructed with permeable surfaces, allowing water infiltration and reducing flash flood risk.
- Drought-resistant landscaping: Endemic and drought-tolerant vegetation was planted to reduce irrigation demand, support biodiversity, and serve as a model for sustainable urban landscaping.
- Public awareness and education hub: The site was transformed into an educational space, featuring traditional irrigation elements, interpretive signage, and a weather station to monitor local climate data and engage residents in climate action.
