Environmental group warns of eutrophication at Larnaca Salt Lake

On October 14, 2026, the environmental organization Terra Cypria raised urgent concerns regarding significant eutrophication, locally known as 'malla', observed in a section of the Larnaca Salt Lake situated near the Larnaca Sewage Treatment Plant. During a site visit on the same day, the organization identified high levels of nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, which have degraded water quality and transparency.

Terra Cypria suggests that the phenomenon may be linked to several potential causes, including the excessive use of agricultural fertilizers, the discharge of raw sewage, or the release of industrial and livestock waste. The organization emphasized that this process reduces oxygen levels in the water, posing a severe threat to aquatic life and destabilizing the local ecosystem.

Consequently, the group has called upon the relevant authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the state of the lake and the operational status of the nearby treatment plant. The inquiry seeks to determine whether treated or untreated wastewater is being discharged into the protected area. As of now, authorities have been urged to intervene quickly to prevent further environmental damage to the salt lake ecosystem.