Supervisors info:
Εμμανουήλ Δασενάκης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Χημείας, ΕΚΠΑ
Σεραφείμ Πούλος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Γεωλογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Ηλίας Δημητρίου, Ερευνητής Α, ΕΛΚΕΘΕ
Summary:
Water resources and the ecosystems associated with them are currently at risk of quantitative and qualitative degradation. The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) was created to ensure the good quality of Europe's water systems. An important role for achieving this goal in Greece is played by the National Water Monitoring Network, which, among other things, makes measurements of nutrient concentrations in the river systems of Greece. The present thesis was created using these data. The main purposes of the thesis are, the calculation of nutrient loads (N-NO2, N-NO3, N-NH4, P-PO4) with the use of concentration and discharge data from stations of the National Monitoring Water Network according to Water Framework Directive for 18 rivers of mainland Greece and their correlation with the season, the riverine system, the water department, the land uses of the river basin, etc. The data used is included in the results of the HCMR surface water monitoring program. Of these, total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and total inorganic phosphorus (P-PO4) loads were found. These loads were statistically processed through the IBM SPSS Statistics 25 program and spatially processed via ArcMap 10.3. Loads of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and total inorganic phosphorus (P-PO4) seem to be closely related with land uses in the river basins. As a result of cluster analysis, a dendrogram was made were the 18 rivers can be divided into 4 groups concerning the nutrients loads counted in their stations. The group of rivers with the highest loads includes Strimonas, Aliakmonas and Alpheios rivers (main land use in their river basin is agriculture), whereas the group with the lowest nutrients loads includes Arachthos, Spercheios, Mornos and Achelloos rivers (main land use in their river basins is natural vegetation). The geographic position of the rivers is also crucial, since Strymonas and Axios (cross-border rivers) have high nutrient loads. Especially for rivers with high nutrient loads that are in poor ecological status a closest monitoring is suggested. In some cases the operation of sewage treatment plants and the implementation of good agricultural practices is highly advisable. Probably the most one of the most important actions is the compliance with legislation as it is enshrined in European Directives such as the Water Framework Directive.
Keywords:
Water Framework Directive, pollutant loads, nutrients, rivers, water basins
