Über den Staudamm Achna

Achna dam is located in the Famagusta district, close to the south-eastern coast of Cyprus in a flat agricultural landscape defined by the famous red soils of the Kokkinochoria region. Unlike most Cypriot dams that impound river water captured from rainfall, Achna functions primarily as a storage reservoir for treated wastewater and desalinated water, with a capacity of 6.8 MCM. Built in 1987, the 15-metre earth-fill structure is deliberately low-profile, suited to the flat topography of the coastal plain rather than the steep river gorges where most of Cyprus's conventional dams are sited. The Kokkinochoria region — whose name means 'red villages' — is one of Cyprus's most intensively cultivated agricultural zones, producing potatoes, strawberries, and early vegetables for export to European markets. This intensive agriculture demands substantial irrigation water in a region that receives less than 350 mm of annual rainfall and has no significant river systems. Achna's role in wastewater reuse makes it an increasingly important asset as Cyprus moves toward closing the water cycle and reducing dependence on rainfall-dependent storage. The treated water stored at Achna is primarily used for agricultural irrigation, freeing up higher-quality fresh water for domestic consumption. As climate projections for the eastern Mediterranean consistently point toward drier winters and hotter summers, the Achna model of non-conventional water use is gaining recognition as a template for managing water scarcity in low-rainfall regions. The reservoir also provides incidental wetland habitat in an otherwise dry and intensively farmed landscape, attracting migratory birds and supporting a modest but notable local biodiversity value.