Thebes water is also toxic, authorities say
Thousands of residents of Thebes, in Viotia, are drinking water containing high levels of toxic chromium, local authorities say, comparing their situation to that in nearby Oinofyta, where the water is found to have been contaminated by the polluted Asopos River. «It’s a really serious problem,» Mayor of Thebes Nikolaos Svigos told Kathimerini, noting that authorities are building a water distillery. Tests on tap water at local schools and hospitals have revealed high levels of toxic chromium. «Tests on water show a steady presence of toxins, which suggests a constant source of pollution,» said Vonifatios Papaserapheim, head of the municipal water and sewage unit. Last week, European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas condemned the government for failing to take measures to curb the influx of toxic chemicals into the Asopos River.
