The parliamentary spokesperson for AKEL, George Loukaidis, sent a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Environment, the Minister of Health, and the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs, calling for a full investigation into the incidents and complaints regarding marine pollution in Limassol and clear answers regarding the possible sources and the actions taken by the competent authorities.

“With reports of foam, unpleasant odors, turbidity, and unknown substances—as well as the confirmed discharge of secondary-treated water from the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Moni— this issue cannot be addressed with general assurances.”

AKEL calls for the submission of all sampling results and laboratory analyses, that all possible sources of pollution be investigated, and that it be clarified whether there have been any violations of the law or the terms of the permit.

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He is also seeking answers regarding the incident at Moni, the drainage pipe in the Dasoudi area, the timing of notifications, and the coordination among the relevant agencies.

Ahead of the discussion at the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment on September 9, AKEL calls for a concrete plan, a timeline, and measures to permanently and effectively address marine pollution.

Read the letter in its entirety:

With this letter, we bring to your attention the serious issue of repeated incidents and complaints regarding the state of the marine environment along the Limassol coastline, which have caused legitimate concern among citizens.

Reports of foam, unpleasant odors, turbidity, unknown substances, and debris, combined with recently published data regarding the operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Moni, necessitate a thorough and well-documented investigation of the situation.

It has been publicly confirmed that, due to a malfunction at the Moni facility, secondary-treated water was discharged into the sea, while emergency sampling by the Department of the Environment revealed an increased microbiological load in samples taken near the station. At the same time, the Department of the Environment clarified that no impact on bathing water quality was observed in neighboring swimming areas.

The meeting held on August 27, 2026, at the Deputy Ministry of Maritime Affairs, with the participation of key stakeholders, confirms that the issue requires a coordinated and effective response.

AKEL believes that the citizens of Limassol are entitled to complete and scientifically substantiated information, transparency, and concrete actions to protect the marine environment and public health. We do not prejudge the origin or responsibility for the reported incidents. It is, however, the duty of the competent authorities to investigate every possible source of pollution, to verify compliance with legislation and licensing conditions, and to inform the public in a timely and responsible manner.

In light of the discussion of a related ex officio agenda item at the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, we request that your representatives provide a comprehensive briefing and the relevant official data regarding the following:

1. Sampling and Laboratory Analyses

Please submit all results of routine and ad hoc sampling conducted in the marine area and on the beaches of Limassol from August 1, 2026, through the date of the, along with the relevant certificates or reports from the General Chemical Laboratory of the State or another accredited laboratory.

Please specify, in particular, which results led to the Department of the Environment’s announcement regarding an “increased microbiological load” in the Moni area, what the extent and duration of the phenomenon were, and how its possible cause is being assessed.

2. Incident at the Moni Wastewater Treatment Plant

Following the public confirmation that, due to a malfunction, secondary-treated water was discharged into the sea, we request a full report on the incident.

Please provide details regarding the exact duration and cause of the malfunction, the quantity and quality of the water discharged, the results of the analyses conducted before, during, and after the incident, as well as whether the discharge was in compliance with the terms of the relevant environmental permit and applicable legislation.

At the same time, we would like to be informed as to whether any violations were identified, whether an inspection or investigation report was prepared, whether the imposition of sanctions was considered, what measures were taken to remedy the damage and prevent a recurrence of such an incident, as well as whether the competent authorities have established or ruled out a causal link between the discharge and the elevated microbial load detected near the Station.

3. Drainage pipeline and incidents in the Dasoudi area

We request an update on the investigation into the drainage pipeline that discharges into the coastal area near Dasoudi. Please provide the relevant permit and its terms, the purpose of the pipeline, the source of the water, and the intended destination of the pipeline, as well as the results of the sampling and analyses that have been conducted.

Please also clarify whether any deviations or violations of the permit conditions were identified and what measures are planned to be taken in such a case.

4. Timing of Notification to Competent Authorities and Response Protocol

Please clarify exactly when each relevant government agency was notified of the incident at the Monastery and what its response was. We also request that the current protocol for immediately notifying and mobilizing the relevant agencies in the event of potential marine pollution be submitted, and that it be clarified which agency is responsible for operational coordination.

In a matter that may affect the environment and public health, there can be no gaps or delays in informing and coordinating the relevant agencies.

5. Investigation of all possible sources of pollution

The investigation must not be limited to a single incident or possibility. We request that all possible sources of pollution in Limassol Bay be systematically examined, including fish farms, sewage treatment plants and pipelines, stormwater or drainage pipes, land-based and construction activities, potential illegal discharges, industrial or other waste, as well as activities involving boats, ships, port facilities, and anchorages.

Please inform us of the methodology used to identify the source of each incident and how many of the complaints filed in 2026 have, to date, been attributed to a specific cause.

6. Strategic Plan and Permanent Mechanism for Immediate Response

According to the relevant public announcement, a Strategic Plan for the prevention, detection, and response to marine pollution incidents was presented at the meeting on August 27. We request that this plan be submitted as is to the Environment Committee and that the responsible agency, the timeline, evaluation indicators, the projected and secured costs, and the current stage of implementation.

Please also clarify what measures are planned to strengthen inspections, the use of technological tools and equipment, 24-hour response to complaints, and staffing of the relevant agencies, as well as whether the Strategic Plan leads to the creation of a permanent and operationally effective mechanism for addressing marine pollution.

7. Implementation of Previous Decisions and Measures

This is not a new issue. Meetings have been held and specific measures announced in previous years to prevent and combat marine pollution.

In 2024, among other things, the establishment of a Committee for the Prevention of Marine Pollution was announced, and measures specifically for Limassol Bay were agreed upon, such as increasing maritime patrols and vessel inspections, conducting inspections of the waterfront, installing absorbent barriers, expanding the scope of laboratory analyses, and mapping the pipelines that discharge into the sea.

We request detailed information on which of the measures decided upon and announced in 2023 and 2024 were fully implemented, which were partially implemented, and which were not implemented at all—along with the reasons and the resulting outcomes.

At the same time, please explain why, despite previous decisions and the mechanisms that had been announced, there is still a need for new measures and a new plan.

8. Public Information and Transparency

We request that the results of routine and emergency inspections and laboratory analyses be made public in a timely manner, in a consolidated form, and in a way that is easily accessible and understandable to citizens.

In any incident where there is a risk—or where such a risk cannot be ruled out—to public health or the marine environment, the public must be informed immediately and clearly about both the nature of the incident and the appropriate precautionary measures.

A general reference to the quality of “bathing waters” cannot replace full disclosure of the actual results of microbiological and chemical analyses and the investigation of specific incidents.

9. Budget, Funding, and Timeline

We request that you inform us whether there is currently an available and adequate budget for the full implementation of the necessary measures for prevention, early detection, monitoring, and immediate response to marine pollution incidents in Limassol.

Please specify the available appropriations, the sources of funding, and the additional expenditures planned, as well as a specific timeline for implementing the agreed-upon actions, with a clear allocation of responsibilities among the relevant agencies.

The protection of Limassol’s coastal waters cannot be addressed through a series of meetings and announcements of measures without a systematic evaluation of their implementation and effectiveness. It is a matter of protecting the environment, public health, citizens’ quality of life, and the public interest.

For this reason, AKEL will await the submission of the relevant data and the responses from the competent authorities at the upcoming meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment. It will continue to exercise the necessary parliamentary oversight until complete and substantiated answers are provided, responsibilities are clarified where they exist, and, most importantly, effective and permanent measures are implemented to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.