TRNC Water Supply Project: Homes and Infrastructure
Short answer: The Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Water Supply Project carries water from Alaköprü Dam in Anamur, Mersin to Geçitköy Dam in Girne through a line with approximately 80 km passing under the sea via a suspended pipeline system, and entered service on 17 October 2015. Of the planned annual 75 million m³ of water, 37.76 million m³ is allocated for drinking, domestic and industrial water, and 37.24 million m³ for agricultural irrigation. For housing, the key factor is the distribution network that delivers the water from the dam to homes; the condition of this network can vary from region to region.
This article has been prepared for readers considering buying a home in the TRNC and asking, “Will I have water problems in my home?”, as well as for those following the island’s infrastructure developments. Based on official and press sources, we summarize the project’s technical features, its stages over the years, and what home buyers should check on site. We explained the process of opening a water subscription for a new home in our article on electricity and water subscriptions in the TRNC.
What is the TRNC Water Supply Project?
The project was carried out by Turkey to meet the TRNC’s long-term drinking and irrigation water needs. According to a 2020 report by Anadolu Agency, the water is taken from Alaköprü Dam, built on the Dragon Stream in Anamur, crosses the sea through a suspended pipeline system, and reaches Geçitköy Dam in Girne. Both dams were completed in March 2014. In Hürriyet’s opening report dated 17 October 2015, the project cost was stated as 1.6 billion TL, and it was noted that the aim was to meet the TRNC’s drinking and irrigation water needs for 50 years.
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Entry into service | 17 October 2015 |
| Source dam | Alaköprü Dam (Anamur, Mersin), storage capacity 130.5 million m³ |
| Target dam | Geçitköy Dam (Girne), storage capacity 26.5 million m³ |
| Total line length | Approximately 106–107 km (varies by source) |
| Sea crossing | Approximately 80 km; suspended pipeline approximately 250 m below the sea surface |
| Sea pipeline | High-density polyethylene with a diameter of 1,600 mm |
| Annual water | 75 million m³: 37.76 million m³ drinking-domestic-industrial, 37.24 million m³ irrigation |
The storage capacities and water allocation in the table were taken from Mersin Gazetesi’s report dated 11 July 2026; the pipeline and sea crossing information was taken from Anadolu Agency’s 2020 report. Since the line length was given as 106 and 107 km in the two sources, we used a range in the table.
What happened in 11 years?
The early years of the project were not without problems. According to Anadolu Agency’s report, a technical fault occurred in the suspended pipeline system at the sea crossing in January; after repairs carried out by DSI and the contractor company with a team of 325 people, water started flowing again on 6 October. According to the same report, 236 million 457 thousand m³ of water had been transferred to the TRNC from 2015 until that date.
On the distribution side beyond the dam, a phased process was followed. According to information cited in Mersin Gazetesi’s report on the project’s 11th year, Lefkoşa Municipality began receiving drinking water in 2017–2018, while the Güzelyurt basin began benefiting from the water in 2023–2024. In DSI’s statement dated 14 September 2023, it was stated that water had reached all municipalities in the TRNC through the distribution lines put into service, and that the tender for 207 km of drinking water reservoir connection lines to supply water to 93 settlements had been completed.
- 2015: The project entered service, and water reached Geçitköy Dam.
- Early years: A period of fault and repair occurred at the sea crossing.
- 2017–2018: Drinking water began to be supplied to Lefkoşa Municipality.
- 2023: DSI announced that water had reached all municipalities and that the tender had been held for 207 km of reservoir connection lines.
- 2023–2024: The Güzelyurt basin gained access to irrigation water.
- April 2026: At the ceremony for the 2026 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement, it was stated that drinking water works were at an advanced stage.
Investments on the irrigation side are also continuing. According to the same statement by DSI, the 5.7 km-long Güzelyalı and Mesarya Plains Transmission Tunnel and the 1st section of the Central Mesarya Transmission Line, which will provide irrigation water to 18,730 decares of land, had been completed and put into service; the tender for the 44 km-long 2nd section had also been held. The statement notes that the total value of DSI projects in the TRNC reached 31 billion lira, of which 15 billion lira had been spent. Since these figures are dated 2023, they may not reflect the current situation.
You can access DSI’s statement from DSI’s news page.
What has the TRNC Water Supply Project brought to homeowners?
The project’s most tangible impact is the reduced dependence on local groundwater and the improvement in water quality. Producers whose views were included in Mersin Gazetesi’s report state that local well water had become significantly salinized, while the water coming from Turkey is first class. The same report notes that in some settlements, before the project, water came only one or two days a week, and periods when water was transported by tanker are remembered.
For the housing market, this development is important in three respects:
- Supply security: Even in dry years, the fact that the main source comes from outside provides an important assurance of continuity for homes connected to the network.
- Quality: The scaling and corrosion problems caused by salty well water in plumbing, water heaters, and household appliances may decrease with the transition to mains water.
- Regional differences: Delivering water from the dam to homes depends on municipal networks, reservoir connection lines, and internal plumbing. For this reason, even within the same district, different neighborhoods may have different experiences.
For the impact of irrigation water on agriculture in the Güzelyurt basin and life in the region, you can see our Lefke and Güzelyurt area guide, and for choosing a neighborhood in the capital, our article on buying a home in Lefkoşa.
What should you check about water when buying a home?
Securing the main source does not mean that every home will receive uninterrupted water every day. In the TRNC, many homes have a water tank and booster system that stores mains water. We recommend asking the following questions before buying:
| Question | Why is it important? |
|---|---|
| Is the home connected to the municipal water network? | Quality and continuity differ in homes dependent on well or tanker water. |
| Is there a water tank, and what is its capacity? | When there is an interruption in the network, the tank allows daily use to continue. |
| Who is responsible for the booster and pump? | In complexes, maintenance of the shared system may be included in the maintenance fee. |
| Can a water subscription be opened? | In new projects, a permanent subscription may depend on the completion of documents. |
| Have there been water cuts in the area in recent years? | Asking neighbors and site management provides the most realistic information. |
At the handover stage, special attention should also be paid to the water installation. The connection between the tank and the apartment, the operating pressure of the booster, and the hot water system should be tested before handover; it should be checked that the tank cover is closed and clean, and that there are no leaks in the plumbing. In homes to be rented out, determining whose name the water bill will be in and recording the meter reading also prevents disputes that may arise later.
To assess water efficiency and garden irrigation at villa scale, you can review our villa energy and water efficiency inspection guide, and for how to check the installation at turnkey delivery, see our new home handover checklist.
Why is water infrastructure important for the construction sector?
According to the Statistical Institute’s 2025 data, approximately 59% of apartments that received final approval were located in rural areas outside municipal boundaries. The spread of new residential areas to coastal and village regions increases the importance of reservoirs and connection lines that enable water from the main source to reach these areas. The 207 km of connection lines extending to 93 settlements, for which DSI announced the tender in 2023, is also an investment aimed at this need.
For project developers, water is a direct design input in areas such as construction permits, infrastructure planning, and the complex’s storage capacity. For buyers, how a project’s water infrastructure is solved is a topic that should be asked about as much as the pool and landscaping. Asking this question during the sales meeting also gives an idea of the site’s long-term operating costs.
Frequently asked questions
When was the TRNC Water Supply Project opened?
The project was put into service on 17 October 2015. Water taken from Alaköprü Dam in Mersin crosses the approximately 80 km sea passage through a suspended pipeline system and reaches Geçitköy Dam in Girne. As of October 2026, the project marks its 11th year.
How much water comes from Turkey to the TRNC each year?
According to information cited in Mersin Gazetesi’s July 2026 report, the project is planned to deliver 75 million m³ of water per year to the TRNC. Of this, 37.76 million m³ is allocated for drinking, domestic and industrial water, and 37.24 million m³ for agricultural irrigation.
Does the water from Turkey reach all homes?
According to DSI’s 2023 statement, it was stated that water had reached all municipalities in the TRNC through distribution lines. However, the extent and continuity with which each home receives this water depends on the municipal network, reservoir connections, and the home’s internal plumbing. Before buying, ask whether the home is connected to the network and whether it has a water tank.
Why do homes in the TRNC have water tanks?
Against interruptions and pressure differences that may occur in the network, many homes use a water tank and booster system that stores mains water. Tank capacity and responsibility for pump maintenance may also affect the scope of the maintenance fee, especially in homes within complexes.
If there is a fault in the water project, will water be cut off to homes?
In the past, when a fault occurred in the pipeline at the sea crossing, repairs lasted for months. The storage capacity of Geçitköy Dam and local sources may play a buffering role during such periods, but the risk of regional interruptions does not disappear completely. Having a water tank with sufficient capacity in the home is the most practical measure against this risk.
If you would like to assess the water and infrastructure status of a home you are considering buying, you can contact the Akol Global team; we can answer your questions with information from the field.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace legal, tax, or financial advice. Last updated: October 2026.