A serious attempt to create a central sewerage system in the city of Larnaca was first made in 1978. This was decided after a heavy rainfall which took place on December 2^nd 1978 and which caused destructive floods in various areas of the city, as well as because of the rapid housing and tourist development observed in the city of Larnaca after the Turkish invasion of 1974. The mayor of Larnaca at the time Mr. Leonidas Kiouppis and the City Council, during a meeting held on February 13^th 1979 at the office of Mr Kokos Marcou, Larnaca District Officer at the time, decided to call for international tenders for the preparation of a study regarding a sewerage and drainage system in Larnaca and the wider area. The call for tenders was published in the Cypriot press (“Phileleftheros”, “Agon”, “Ta Nea”, “Haravgi”, “Eleftheri Kypros” and “Simerini” newspapers), as well as in the foreign press (Financial Times, Observer, Guardian, Herald Tribune) on February 25^th 1979. The terms of reference regarding the tender had been prepared by Mr G. Phedonos, Senior Official of the Town Planning and Housing Department. In total, sixty-five tenders were submitted and these were evaluated by a Technical Committee which consisted of the following members:

• Marcou, Larnaca District Officer – Chairman
• Papasozomenos, Nicosia Public Works Department – Member
• Hamatsos, District Engineer, Water Development Department – Member
• Pavlou, Medical Services Department – Members
• Constantinou, Geological Surveying Department – Member
• Phedonos, Town Planning and Housing Department – Member

After evaluating the tenders, the Technical Committee suggested that the most favourable one was the tender submitted by Israeli company Balasha & Jalon. Their firm was already known in Cyprus since it was the same one which had undertaken the preparation of blueprints for the Sewerage systems of Kyrenia and Limassol prior to the Turkish Invasion and they were considered to have long experience in such issues and an internationally recognized status. According to the tender, the cost would rise to £64,700, making it the lowest of the tenders that had been submitted.

The agreement for the preparation of the blueprints of the Sewerage and Drainage System was signed on November 11^th 1979. According to the agreement, the general plan and the feasibility study regarding the two systems would be submitted to the Municipality for pre-approval within six months after the agreement had been signed and their final form would be submitted within a time period of two months after their pre-approval.

The agreement between the Municipality of Larnaca and the Israeli firm Balasha & Jalon caused a lot of disturbance among the Arab Diplomatic Circles and among the Cypriot Political Parties due to the fact that it was considered an act that could disrupt relations between Cyprus and the Arab World. The news reports in the press were both daily and condemnatory towards the Municipal Committee of Larnaca.  On December 14^th 1979 the Municipal Committee called a meeting at the City Hall of Larnaca in the presence of the Minister of Interior and Defense at the time, Mr Chr. Veniamin, and the topic on the agenda was the annulment of the contract that had been signed between the Municipality of Larnaca and the Israeli Firm Balash & Jalon in order to avoid any possible political consequences. The initial compensation sum that the Israeli Firm demanded was £21.400, but after negotiations they reached a consensus for the amount of €8.000, which was paid by the Government.

After the agreement was annulled, the Municipality of Larnaca received a letter dated June 16^th 1980 from Canadian Firm Reid Crowther and Partners Ltd, in cooperation with Cypriot Firm Solon Hadjiminas and Associates, which had also participated in the international tender competition and had been classified second by the Technical Committee. In that letter the firm offered to prepare all necessary plans, blueprints and studies and to undertake the supervision of the construction part of the Larnaca sewerage and drainage systems free of charge under the condition that the Canadian Government, through the Canadian International Development Agency, granted all necessary funds for this purpose. The Municipal Committee accepted the Canadian firm’s generous offer. However, the Canadian firm did not manage to receive approval for the relevant funding from the Canadian Government’s scheme and they offered to reduce the initial amount of their tender by £10.000, from £79.770 to £69.770. The contract between the Municipality of Larnaca and Canadian Firm Reid Crowther and Partners Ltd was signed at the City Hall of Larnaca on July 13^th 1981.

According to the agreement, the Canadian firm would have to prepare a plan and a sustainability report for the project, which would lead to a detailed designing and supervision of the entire construction. The sustainability report was going to be presented before the International Bank so that it would be able to consider the possibility of funding the project. The first draft report was submitted in April 1982 and the final one in November of the same year. This report studied an area of 70km², including the city of Larnaca, the village of Leivadia and the coastal zone up to the border with the British Garrisons in Dhekelia and recommended the development of the sewerage system in seven stages and of the drainage system in four stages.  According to the report, the Sewerage Treatment Plant was to be built northeast of the village of Kellia.  The 1982 report estimations showed that this would have been an extremely costly decision and therefore a supplementary report was prepared and submitted in September 1984. The report examined the possibility of building the Sewerage Treatment Plant at alternative locations and reviewed the construction schedule. The Municipal Committee unanimously decided, according to the terms of reference, to assign the Canadians with the task of preparing the final studies and blueprints in accordance with the supplementary report.

The procedures for the establishment of the Larnaca Sewerage Board started in April 1985 according to articles 3 and 5 of the Sewerage Systems Laws of 1971-1978 and at the same time the Canadian Advising Engineers settled in Cyprus and started working on the preparation of the final studies and designs (Preliminary and Final Engineering Design) of the central Larnaca Sewerage System, with the cost rising to more than €500.000.

The Government, with decision number 25.7818 dated April 25^th 1985 decided to approve the construction of the Larnaca Sewerage System and to authorize, in accordance with article 8 of the Municipalities Laws of 1964 -1984, the Municipal Committee of Larnaca to receive a loan of £496,900 from the Loan Committees Fund. With this loan the Municipality covered the fees of the Advising Engineers who undertook and preparation of the final studies and designs (Preliminary and Final Design) of the Larnaca Sewerage System.

On May 16^th 1985 the Government, with decision no 25.795, approved the establishment of the Larnaca Sewerage Board and appointed as Members the City Council of Larnaca in office Presided by the Mayor, while the Community Council Presidents in office of Leivadia, Voroklini and Pyla would represent the interests of these areas. Included within the boundaries of the Larnaca Sewerage Board is the city of Larnaca and the coastal area of Leivadia, Voroklini and Pyla, up to the borders of the Dhekelia British Garrisons. The Sewerage Board is classified as an Organisation Governed by Public Law and is audited by the Auditor General of the Republic.

The first Larnaca Sewerage Board consisted of the following members:

• Loukis Loukaides, Chairman
• Kratinos Michaelides, Municipal Committee Member
• Antonakis Mirmidonis, Municipal Committee Member
• Andreas Touloupis, Municipal Committee Member
• Spyros Elenodwrou, Oroklini Community President
• Petros Armenis, Leivadia Community President
• Costas Mytides, Pyla Community President

The tenure of all the above lasted one year since a new Mayor and City Council were elected during the Municipal Elections of May 1986.

The new Larnaca Sewerage Board consisted of the following members:

• Giorgos Christodoulides, Mayor, LSDB Chairman
• Diofantos Chrysostomou, Deputy Mayor, LSDB Member
• Venizelos Zanettos, LSDB Member
• Spyros Zisimos, LSDB Member
• Foivos Aetheris, LSDB Member
• Kriton Georgiades, LSDB Member
• Kriton Erotocritou, LSDB Member
• Champis Kyriacou, LSDB Member
• Kikis Lefkaritis, LSDB Member
• Costakis Nicolaides, LSDB Member
• Lenia Kampanella, LSDB Member
• Toula Charalampous, LSDB Member
• Nikos Demetriou, LSDB Member
• Evripides Georgiades, LSDB Member
• Sotis Antoniades, LSDB Member
• Vera Christofidou, LSDB Member
• Giorgos Georgiou, LSDB Member
• Loizos Loizides, LSDB Member
• Mamas Hadjichristofis, LSDB Member
• Stelios Gerasimou, LSDB Member
• Kikis Yiagkou, LSDB Member
• Nikos Konias, LSDB Member
• Andreas Fantousis, LSDB Member
• Spyros Elenodwrou, Oroklini Community President, LSDB Member
• Petros Armenis, Leivadia Community President, LSDB Member
• Christakis Yiasemi, Pyla Community President, LSDB Member

(All remaining Board Members up until the present day are cited in Appendix 1)

In order for the Larnaca Sewerage Board’s affairs to be handled, the Municipal Secretary Mr. Soteris Zirkis, the Municipal Engineer Mr. Andreas Charalampous and the Deputy Municipal Secretary Mrs. Androulla Hadjivarnava offered their services. On May 23^rd 1985 the Ministry of Finance approved the recruitment, by the Municipality, of the first typist of the Larnaca Sewerage Board who would be employed on a temporary basis. Next, on July 9th 1985 the Government approved the LSDB’s request to be allocated state land located near the Larnaca Airport for the installation of the Sewerage Treatment Plant. Designating the area where the plant would be built constituted a requirement set by the International Bank for it to proceed with the approval of the loan which would cover the expenditure for the final study and design of the project, which was expected to reach a cost of £497,000.

In December 1986 the Board was informed that due to conflicts between the two partners, namely Reid Growther International Ltd and Solon Hadjiminas and Associates, the completion of the project’s study had been interrupted. The board set several deadlines for the Advising Engineers and many times acted as an intermediary to assist the two partners resolve their differences and complete the designs, but their efforts did not produce any positive results. Therefore, to find a solution and exit the dead-end they had reached, it was decided that the contract with the Canadian Advising Engineers and the Cypriot Firm would be terminated and new tenders would be invited for the completion of the study.  During a meeting on August 27^th 1987, the Board decided to assign the project of completing the Study for the Sewerage System of Larnaca to British Firm L.G. Mouchel & Partners, while the relevant agreement was signed on October 10^th 1987.  The tender was for the amount of £101.000.  The study was completed by the English Firm in May 1988 and at the same time a coordinating committee was formed by representatives of all Government Departments to examine the sustainability and the cost of the project. Next, it was deemed necessary, since a considerable amount of time had elapsed, to update / review the study for the Sewerage System in addition to an environmental study for the project and therefore the relevant tenders were invited. The Board, after considering the evaluation of the tenders conducted by the Technical Committee, decided to approve the tender of Howard Hamphreys & Partners Ltd at the price of £197.299. The environmental study had been requested by the International Bank for the purposes of funding the Larnaca Sewerage System.

In June 1991 the Government approved the following funding scheme for the project which was to be effectuated in millions of Cyprus Pounds and which would be covered by State Guarantees.

International Bank: 6.000.000  (25%)
Council of Europe Social Development Fund: 7.700.000  (32%)
Sewerage Board (Local contribution): 6.300.000  (26%)
Government Investment: 4.100.000  (17%)
Total: 24.000.000 (100%)
Government Loan: 4.500.000

The Government has approved the above funding scheme under the condition that the government investments regarding the tertiary treatment and the irrigation systems of these Projects will allow the Government to exploit the water after its tertiary treatment and that the government long-term and low-interest loans will be granted to the LSDB for the purposes of funding the Board and not for the purposes of funding the construction works. This proposal was subject to the approval of the International Bank as well.

At the same time, the Operation Regulations of the Board were approved in accordance with article 49 of the Sewerage Systems Law of 1971-1987, followed by the approval of the recruitment procedures of the board and the office equipment to be used at the board’s offices which were rented on Zenonos Kitieos Street in Larnaca. In May 1991 the Board decided to recruit an Accountant and a Chief Sewerage Engineer, while the Municipal Secretary, Mr Soteris Zirkis, acted as Deputy General Manager. In March 1992 three 2^nd Class Scriveners were recruited to cover the needs of the Board, that is to prepare the tax catalogues, to manage computerization, pricing and fee collection for the first time. Next, the Regulations governing the LSDB’s operation were approved, meaning Tender Board Regulations, Warehouse Regulations, Financial Directives, Annual Leave Regulations, Pension and Benefits Regulations and finally Regulations Governing the Larnaca Sewerage Board’s Services.  In August 1992 the sewerage fee taxation was issued for the first time. The fee amount was divided between Phase A and Phase B. The properties falling within Phase A were charged higher fees than the properties falling within Phase B. The sewerage charges were calculated based on the property general valuation prices that were issued on January 1^st 1980, while the drainage charges, which were applied for the first time in 2001, were also calculated based on the same valuation.

In March 1992, the LSDB, after receiving approval from the International Bank, decided to call for tenders concerning the construction works of Contract 1, which involved the construction of a Sewerage Treatment Plant, as well as for the construction works of Contract 2, which involved networking, sewerage pipes and connections with premises which were located along the coastal front, the former Turkish Cypriot district and part of the Skala parish. Additionally, tenders were called for the monitoring of the construction works on Phase A of the Sewerage System. Phase A covered the Skala Parish, part of the Chrysopolitissa Parish, part of the Soteros Parish and the refugee housings of Tsiakkilero, Kokkines, Agioi Anargyroi I and II, as well as the Tourist Area of Leivadia, Oroklini and Pyla. Phase B covered the remaining parts of Larnaca.

The contract for the construction of the Sewerage Treatment Plant was awarded to English Firm Bitwater Treatment Ltd, while Contract 2 was awarded to Cypriot Firm Iacovou Bros (Constructions) Ltd. Finally, the contract regarding the project’s supervision was awarded to Howard Humphreys & Partnets Ltd.

The Ceremony for the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Sewerage Treatment Plant of the Larnaca Sewerage System was held on July 29^th 1993 by the President of the Republic of Cyprus at the time Mr. Glafkos Clerides. The construction works for Contract 2, as well as the sewerage treatment plant were completed towards the end of 1995. Towards the end of 1994 and the beginning of 1995, due to the imminent completion and the operation of the Larnaca Sewerage System, the Board decided to proceed with the necessary recruitments to fill the positions required by the Technical Services of the Board and the plant.  In March 1995 Contract 3 was also awarded to Iacovou Brothers (Constructions) Ltd as their tender was deemed to be the lowest and most beneficial of all submitted tenders. The contract involved the construction of networks in the remaining parts of Larnaca, including the problematic area of Kathari.

In June 1995, the LSDB moved to its privately owned offices located on the corner of Ira Street and Foti Kontoglou Street in Larnaca. In April 1996 Contract 4 was awarded so that Phase A of the Sewerage System would be completed and especially the one concerning the networks of the premises located in the area along the road leading from Larnaca to Dhekelia and up to the borders with the Dhekelia Garrisons. The construction works for Contract 4 were completed in the year 2000. In the same year the Chief General Manager of the Larnaca Sewerage Board was hired, thus seeing the completion of the Board’s organigram.

After the completion of Phase A, the LSDB started considering the issue of connecting the remaining region with the Sewerage System and all necessary technical and financial studies regarding the promotion of Phase B were prepared. In addition, the Board was considering the expansion of the drainage works to cover the areas which had been struck by floods and which had not been covered during Phase A of the project. Towards this objective a Master Plan was prepared, while the big project along Stratigou Timagia Avenue, which is a combination of road and sewerage works, is in line with this same objective.

The Drainage Master Plan and the Sewerage Feasibility Study was undertaken by MWH-I, while the Environmental Impact Assessment Study was conducted by Atlantis between the years 2004-2006. At the same time, the European Bank demanded that a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) be formed. The Unit consisted of existing staff of the LSDB, while a Manager was also hired after tenders were invited. The Manager was an employee of MWH-I who was employed from June 2008 until January 2013, three months prior to the contract expiration, since the agreement was mutually terminated by both parties without any financial penalties.

In 2007 a contract was awarded to Joint Venture Grontmij Carl Bro A/S – LDK Consultants Engineers and Planners S.A. – ROIKOS Engineering Consultants S.A. in order to prepare a detailed study regarding Phase B, a drainage feasibility study, as well as to supervise the construction works of Phase B.

In 2009 the Government decided that the Municipality of Dromolaxia-Meneou and the communities of Kiti and Pervolia would be included in the LSDB’s jurisdiction (Phase C). The Government committed to cover 80% of the cost for the works conducted in these communities.  The works in these communities were to commence after the necessary funding would be provided by the Government. The study for these communities was prepared in 2004 by Sogreah, an Advising Engineering Firm acting on behalf of the Water Development Department. In 2011, the Government and the Municipality of Aradippou agreed that parts of the Municipality of Aradippou’s area would be included in the LSDB’s jurisdiction and that its invoicing would start immediately.

Towards the end of 2010 the LSDB decided that it would not be possible to cooperate with Joint Venture Grontmij Carl Bro A/S – LDK Consultants Engineers and Planners S.A. – ROIKOS Engineering Consultants S.A. and it was therefore mutually agreed for the contract to be terminated. The alternative solution regarding the supervision of the works involved forming a unit which would consist of contract LSDB employees and people selected via public tenders. Upon the expiration of the contracts of the members forming the Monitoring Unit, the Board of Directors decided to call for new tenders concerning the services to be provided by Advising Engineers who would undertake the monitoring of the remaining Phase B contracts.

Phase B of the Sewerage System is already in progress and will serve the entire municipal area of Larnaca, as well as the tourist areas of Pyla, Oroklini and Leivadia, up to the interurban road leading from Larnaca to Dhekelia, in addition to the four communities of Meneou, Kiti and part of the Aradippou Municipality. The Drainage System will be constructed in the city of Larnaca.

The works of Phase B in the city of Larnaca and the tourist areas of Dhekelia include the construction of 225 km of sewer pipelines, 50 km of drainage sewer pipelines, 10 km of pressure sewer pipelines, 2 km of pressure drainage sewers, 12 new sewerage pumping stations, two new drainage pumping stations and the upgrade of an existing drainage pumping station.  They also include the upgrade and expansion of the Sewerage Treatment Plant, increasing its capacity from 8.500 m³ to 18.000 m³ per day (to cover the needs until the year 2027) and then to 22.000 m³ (to cover the needs until the year 2047). The cost of Phase B is estimated at €165 million, while the construction works are expected to be completed by the end of 2002. The Sewerage Treatment Plant, which aims at covering the needs of the areas included in Phase B, have already been completed.

The Board has decided that the construction works for Phase C of the system are expected to commence within 2019, including the relevant invoicing. The works include the construction of approximately 130 km of sewer pipelines and the relevant pumping stations, while all this is expected to cost €50 million.

Today, the Larnaca Sewerage Board is administered by a 34-member Board and employs 50 staff members. Beyond the Sewerage Systems Law, the Larnaca Sewerage Regulations and the Regulations Governing the Larnaca Sewerage Board’s Services, a series of other relevant legislations and regulations determine the LSDB’s obligations.

• Regulating Procurement Procedures and Related Matters Law of 2016, N73 (I) /2016.
• The Coordination of Procurement Procedures (Supplies, Works and Services) and Related Matters Law, Regulatory Administrative Act (K.D.P) 242/2012
• Regulatory Administrative Act (K.D.P) 138/016 – The management of procurement procedures and Implementation of Procurement Regulations.
• Water and Soil Pollution Control Law, (Ν.106(Ι)/2002) and a series of Regulations.
  Regulatory Administrative Act (K.D.P.) 254/2003 – Application submission for waste disposal permit.
  Regulatory Administrative Act (K.D.P.) 772/2003 – Urban Waste Disposal
  Regulatory Administrative Act (K.D.P.) 269/2005 – Decree concerning the disposal of waste from Sewerage Treatment Stations with a population lower than 2000 people.
• Use of sludge deriving from treatment stations in agriculture: A Good Agricultural Practice Code has been issued (Regulatory Administrative Act K.D.P. 407/2002) and Related Regulations regarding the use of sludge in agriculture (Regulatory Administrative Act K.D.P. 517/2002), in accordance with the Water and Soil Pollution Control Law.
• The Environmental Impact Assessment of Certain Works LAW (N.140 (I) /2005).
• The Free Public Access to information related to the Environment LAW Ν.119(Ι)/2004

Additionally, the Board is under the obligation to abide by the General Regulations and European Directives that concern it as follows:

• The General Data Protection Regulation (ΕU) 679/2016, substituting the Processing of Personal Data (Individual Protection) Law, Ν. 138(Ι)/2001.
• Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EUregarding the field of water policy. The respective Cypriot legislation Ν.13(Ι)/2004 is titled the Action Establishment in the field of water policy Law.
  The European Directive regarding the Urban Sewerage Treatment 91/271/EEC has been amended with Directive 98/15/EEC and has also been adopted by the Cypriot Legislation with Regulation (Regulatory Administrative Act K.D.P.) 772/2003.