At a reception on November 10, 2010, Ambassador Frank Urbancic and USAID Representative Alan Davis congratulated the team of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot water and municipal managers who continue to work together to solve the capital city's environmental problems. While Nicosia may be divided, its residents share the day-to-day challenges posed by outdated infrastructure and dwindling water resources. The November 10 event celebrated the two sides' recent collaboration on a feasibility study and design that will help "green" the city by reclaiming water from the new wastewater treatment plant expected to come on line in 2012. With seed funding from USAID, the city's water and sewerage managers now have a plan to use the treated wastewater to alleviate water shortages in the greater Nicosia area.

USAID has been a longstanding supporter of bicommunal efforts to improve quality of life in Nicosia. This latest effort, financed by the USAID-funded Supporting Activities that Value the Environment (SAVE) project, is yet another example of how Nicosia’s visionary leaders are solving practical problems in this divided city. Support to this initiative is part of SAVE’s work to build local capacity to better protect and manage Cyprus’ valuable natural and cultural resources, especially water. Like all U.S.-funded programs in Cyprus, SAVE is aimed at facilitating reunification of the island, including through better protection and management of the island’s critical natural resources.