Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Cyprus?

Desalination supplies approximately 80% of Cyprus’s drinking water, with daily production around 245,000 m³. The Water Development Department (WDD) operates five permanent desalination plants at Dhekelia, Larnaca, Vasiliko, Episkopi, and Paphos, plus mobile units. The remaining supply comes from reservoirs and groundwater.

No significant bacterial or chemical contamination in the municipal supply. The primary complaint is high mineral content (total dissolved solids often exceeding 400 mg/L) and a noticeable chlorine taste from disinfection. Rooftop storage tanks in older buildings can accumulate sediment, affecting taste even when the municipal supply is clean.

Safe in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos. Water is very hard across all cities, especially Paphos (300–400+ mg/L). In Northern Cyprus, bottled water is recommended due to variable infrastructure quality. Rural villages with private wells may have inconsistent quality.

Hard to very hard, roughly 250–400+ mg/L across major cities. Paphos is the hardest; overall TDS averages approximately 426 mg/L..

Despite official safety, most Cypriot residents do not drink tap water due to taste (chlorine and high minerals) and limescale concerns. Bottled water consumption is deeply ingrained, and home reverse-osmosis filtration systems are increasingly common.

• •Tap water is safe for brushing teeth and cooking in all major cities
• •In older buildings with rooftop tanks, filtered or bottled water is preferable for drinking
• •In Northern Cyprus, stick to bottled water

• •Use filtered or bottled water for drinking in older buildings with rooftop tanks
• •Avoid tap water in Northern Cyprus