Introduction

State agencies together with Municipalities of Karditsa region in central Greece, have realized that detailed knowledge about the availability and the exploitation possibilities of water resources was needed for the development and the economic growth of their areas. This task has been assigned to GEOSERVICE and was carried out within two years.

Project plan

This specific project had the following main objectives:

Determination of the hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifers
Determination of the available surface and groundwater quantities in all study areas
Identification of the over-exploitation limits of these resources and
Final establishment of a sustainable water management in all areas.

Methodology

The study has covered one area of 223.000 square Kms in the SE part of Karditsa region, with altitudes varying from 150 to 1600 m. One full set of geological, hydrogeological and hydrological data has been acquired from field works and specialized surveys.

The water balance of the area has been calculated and used as a tool for a comprehensive approach to solving interrelated watershed problems.

Project outcome and conclusions

The main results of this integrated study are summarized below:

Groundwater resources at the low altitude areas (KEDROS and LOUTRO) are sufficient enough to cover all water needs in agricultural activities without any risk of over-exploitation.
The high rainfall rates at the high altitude areas and the significant number of small watersheds with favorable geologic conditions are considered as privilege conditions for one future intensive agricultural exploitation.
18 positions for small dams construction have been localized.

Today, state agencies have implemented the realization of the study's results. Four of the above proposed dams are already been assigned to contractors.