Authorities on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus announced Monday that they were immediately reducing the water supply to people's homes to cope with a «dramatic» drought that has left dams nearly empty, AP reported. Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said supply cuts of 30 percent were a «necessary measure» in light of a 17 million cubic meter (600 million cubic feet) shortfall in water reserves. The island needs 66.7 million cubic meters (2.35 billion cubic feet) a year to cover its needs. «We've initiated a number of measures to tackle the truly dramatic situation we're facing,» Stefanou told reporters. Stefanou said the government would reduce by almost a third the supply to local water boards that distribute water to homes. The cuts will take effect at once. Other measures include the construction of pipelines to feed local reservoirs with water that will be shipped from Greece in tankers five months from now.
