About Asprokremmos Dam

Asprokremmos is the second-largest dam in Cyprus, situated in the Paphos district on the Xeros River in the foothills of the western Troodos range. Built in 1982 with a capacity of 52 MCM, the 53-metre earth-fill structure was a major engineering undertaking that transformed water management across the entire western region of the island. Paphos town and its surrounding communities — including the rapidly expanding tourist strip along the coast — depend on Asprokremmos for the bulk of their drinking water supply. Beyond urban needs, the dam feeds an extensive irrigation network that supports the banana plantations, citrus groves, and vegetable farms that define the agricultural economy of the Paphos lowlands. The Xeros River catchment receives rainfall from the higher western Troodos slopes, but the region is noticeably drier than the central massif, making Asprokremmos more vulnerable to extended dry spells than its counterpart at Kouris. During the prolonged droughts of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Asprokremmos declined dramatically, prompting emergency water transfers via the Western Conveyor and accelerating the push for desalination capacity on the western coast. The reservoir has also played a role in flood attenuation — the Xeros valley is prone to flash flooding in heavy rain years, and the dam's presence moderates downstream peak flows. Asprokremmos is a key indicator of drought severity in the Paphos catchment area, and its level is monitored closely by agricultural water users who depend on seasonal allocations. The reservoir's shores attract birdwatchers, particularly during migration periods when waders and waterfowl gather on the exposed mudflats during low-water years, adding an unexpected ecological dimension to this critical piece of infrastructure.