Treatment, planning and robust policies needed for collection and protection
5. Wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment using biological processes was first introduced in Greece five years ago as a result of EU pressure, thus ensuring that unprocessed waste and industrial effluents did not end up in lakes, rivers and the sea. According to data produced by the Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Public Works (YPEHODE), 196 wastewater treatment plants operate in the country, 87 are under construction and 49 are inactive; in other words, they were constructed but are not used. There are other problems though: Many treatment plants were not necessary but were constructed for political purposes and there was no provision made for disposing of the sludge produced. The plants are also beset by operational problems and a shortage of specialized staff to manage the units. 6. Cross-border water resources. The most fertile plains and important ecosystems in the country are supplied by rivers and lakes shared with Greece’s neighbors. The water of the Evros, Nestos, Strymonas and Axios rivers originates in Bulgaria and FYROM. These are the rivers that give life to the Macedonian and Thrace plains. The quantity and quality of the water that crosses the northern frontier should be of interest to the government and an important factor in foreign policy. The need to devise a strategy in cooperation with the countries involved becomes all the more urgent every time the Evros Delta floods or toxic substances come down the Axios River. Nothing has been done to combat floods in Evros by the countries concerned (Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria). Skopje University Professor Atanasko Tounefski has warned that the pollution in the Axios River from the urban waste produced by cities in FYROM is a serious problem; the pollutants in the water end up in the Macedonian Plain and flow into the Thermaikos Gulf. 7. Lack of planning. A lack of planning is not only evident in Greece’s obligations toward the EU but also in the management of water resources shared by the three ministries; Development, Agriculture and YPEHODE. Actions are not coordinated and conflicting political decisions are taken. The way the surface and groundwater quality and quantity is monitored is indicative of the prevailing situation: the method for collecting data differs from one ministry to the other, making it impossible to make comparisons or to take measures. 8. Islands and tourism. Every summer the Aegean and Ionian islands are inundated with millions of tourists. Not only is water consumption huge but many of the islands, in particular the smaller ones, are barren and have very little water. Where farming has developed on the islands, the groundwater has been contaminated by pesticides. The situation on some islands is dire: In some Cyclades islands, the groundwater has been exhausted and wells drill brackish water. Efforts were made in 2000 and 2001 to address this acute problem, mainly by making dams. Nevertheless, the lack of water cannot be prevented as long as uncontrolled tourist development continues. 9. Drinkable and dangerous. Fifteen municipalities in the country, that is 180,000 citizens, drink water that contains harmful substances such as nitrates, ammonia, manganese and even arsenic. These were discovered after inspections carried out in 1999 and 2004 and the European Commission delivered a warning to Greece. In Volos, for example, the levels of chlorinated ions, chlorine and sodium that were recorded in the water exceeded the highest limits. Inspections on the quality of drinking water are considered to be inadequate in most cities and in some cases they are not conducted at all, except when a problem arises. 10. Old networks. The aging infrastructure is one of the reasons why so much water is lost. According to estimates by water companies, water is lost due to the aging infrastructure and lack of maintenance; only 40 percent of the water actually reaches the users. Finding funds to maintain the network is a problem. The actual quality of the pipelines used is also an issue, as hundreds of meters of pipeline are constructed with unsuitable material (asbestos) and need immediate replacement.
