Sewage is flowing into the sea near Moni in Limassol

Sewage continues to be discharged into the sea off the coast of Moni in the Limassol district. Local authorities and residents say the problem has worsened due to the overloading of the Moni wastewater treatment plant, which is handling additional volumes of sewage following the shutdown of the station in Vati. The Moni treatment plant is operating at full capacity, especially during the summer due to the increase in the number of tourists. According to local residents, the volume of discharges has increased so much that the pollution has reached the shoreline.

In June, the Moni community council reported a high concentration of sewage in the sea. Residents say they contacted state authorities and documented the pollution using photographs, videos and water samples. They also brought in divers to inspect the area. Moni community leader Giorgos Evripidou says families have already complained about the quality of the seawater, including reports of skin rashes after contact with the water.

According to environmental activist Efi Xanthou, the problem has existed for several years, but Moni has become the first community to begin systematically documenting the situation. Environment Department Director Elena Stylianopoulou said an investigation was launched after complaints were received. Specialists have already taken water samples and plan to collect additional ones. Inspections of the wastewater treatment facilities have also been carried out to determine the volumes of sewage entering and being discharged.

«We are treating this as a matter of priority», — Stylianopoulou said, adding that the situation should become clearer in the coming days. At the same time, a desalination plant project is being implemented in neighbouring Monagroulli, which is expected to supply Limassol households with 60,000 cubic metres of water daily. Representatives of Moni point out that seawater for desalination will be taken from the same area into which sewage has been discharged for years.

One of the possible solutions under discussion is to use the entire volume of treated water produced by the Moni plant — more than 30,000 cubic metres per day. The proposal is to send more water for irrigation and store the remainder in the Polemidia reservoir.

The Moni community leader said residents intend to continue seeking a solution to the problem and have not ruled out taking the state to court.