Cyprus is intensifying its reliance on desalination to combat increasingly frequent droughts, with plans to expand both permanent and mobile desalination units. Currently, the island operates five permanent plants with a combined capacity of 235,000 cubic meters per day and three mobile units adding another 37,000 cubic meters daily. The government aims for the mobile unit in Mazotos, designed to produce up to 40,000 cubic meters daily, to be operational by summer 2027 despite local protests citing environmental and archaeological concerns.

Desalination now accounts for approximately two-thirds of Cyprus' water consumption, with costs reaching €118 million in 2024 and significant electricity use, though efforts are underway to incorporate renewable energy sources in future projects. Community resistance highlights worries about the permanence of so-called temporary mobile units and their impact, while experts stress that desalination alone cannot solve the island’s water stress. They advocate for broader sustainability measures amid population growth and environmental risks, including the detrimental effects of desalination brine on marine ecosystems.