The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Water Supply Project is an international water diversion project designed to supply water for drinking and irrigation from southern Turkey to Northern Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) via pipeline under Mediterranean Sea. As such, the project is unique in the world. Cyprus is short of surface water and groundwater due to inadequate rainfall. The project aims to supply Northern Cyprus with water from Turkey for a timespan of 50 years. Of the 75 million m³ water, 37.76 million m³ (50.3%) will be used for drinking purposes and the remaining part (49.7%) will be allocated for irrigation. Following the realization of the project, irrigated farming at an area of 4,824 ha (11,920 acres) in Mesaoria Plains, one of largest plains of the island, will help improve the standard of living in the region.