The recycled water lakes of the Larnaca Sewerage Council (SAL) located in Meneou are transformed into a wonderful wetland, since every year thousands of migratory birds find shelter, including flamingos, ducks, pelicans and herons.
As Ioanna Ioannidou, Operation Manager of the Larnaca Wastewater Treatment Plant, told KYPE, “the artificial recycled water storage ponds were constructed in 1996 as part of the construction of the Larnaca Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Meneou and have a capacity of one million liters. “Recycled water comes from the biological treatment of urban wastewater in Larnaca and some communities.”
He added that “the quality of the treated water is governed by a special disposal permit and its distribution is done by the Department of Water Development. The water is used by the farmers of the area, by the Municipality of Larnaca for the irrigation of gardens and green spaces and for the irrigation of the lawn in football fields “.
Answering a relevant question, Ms. Ioannidou said that “the total amount of recycled water, which is given every year is about 2 million cubic meters. Its importance for the local economy is great because it is always available, especially in summers, even in times of drought “.
He added that “the two artificial lakes have been transformed into a unique wetland, which supports many species of aquatic birds and is an attraction for many bird watchers from around the world.”
For his part, Martin Hellicar, Director of Birdlife Cyprus, said: “This is an area that at first glance does not catch your eye, because it is not forest or salt, but it is full of birds of different species. “The lakes are a pole of attraction for the birds because they are always full of water, in winter and summer, while due to its origin, water has many nutrients, it is an incredibly productive system and always provides food for the birds”.
He added that “these artificial lakes are located within the NATURA 2000 protected area of the salt flats, they are an artificial element, but very important of the whole protected area which is the Ramsar area, which is a wetland of global importance. Also, the lakes do not suffer from the pressure from which many wetlands in Cyprus suffer, whether they are protected or not, that is, the annoyance, since the birds are not bothered by anyone “.
The Department of Forests, continued “has set up a bird observatory in the area and the public can visit the area and enjoy the thousands of birds that are in the lakes, without disturbing them. “Artificial lakes are truly a bird paradise.”
Asked how many species of birds there are in the lakes, he replied that “there are more than a hundred, including flamingos, various species of ducks that find shelter from the cold in the north and come to spend the winter, gulls, herons, pelicans, pelicans and cormorants”.
Source: KYPE
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