Residents of Mazotos have expressed strong opposition to a proposed mobile desalination unit planned for installation on state land, citing potential harm to protected marine habitats such as Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows. The concerns were raised during a meeting with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou and officials from various environmental departments.

Community members questioned the impact of the seabed pipe installation, marine discharge from the plant, and the fate of the project after its seven-year operational period. The community council has filed legal action seeking suspension of the project, with a court hearing scheduled for June 29. Opposition reportedly extends to neighboring communities as well.

The Agriculture Ministry stated that detailed environmental assessments and protection measures had been explained, but noted that the meeting's climate hindered constructive dialogue. The desalination unit, expected to produce around 40,000 cubic metres of water daily and operated by a private company, will proceed under strict legal and environmental regulations aiming to balance ecological protection and water supply needs.