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Description
The coastal aquifers of Zante Island become brackish due to natural causes or overexploitation, a phenomenon very common in many coastal groundwater systems in Greece.
Consequently, the competent authorities have to propose salinization zones and take protection measures.
The ZANTE SAL project aims to investigate the extent of salinization in the coastal aquifers of Zante Island, through: - installation of automatic water quality and level monitoring stations - regular sampling for approximately 2 years along with hydrochemical analysis carried out in the Laboratory of Hydrogeology of the Department of Geology - University of Patras, as well as isotopic analysis of the groundwater samples in the Laboratory of the IFE Institute in Norway. Through this project, it will be possible to consider alternative or additional measures similar to those proposed when the water management of the area was planned .
Expected results:
(1) Optimization of the groundwater management in terms of water quality and quantity.
(2) Better inspection and enforcement of measures for projects and activities that will be considered to enhance the degradation of the groundwater systems
(3) Planning and launching of measures that will positively contribute to the quality and quantity improvement of groundwater.
Summary of project results
The ground water systems of the island of Zakynthos present phenomena of widespread or local saltwater intrution .
The purpose of this research project was to define and delineate the areas of the ground water systems of the island of Zakynthos which present phenomena of widespread or local saltwater. Also the project formulated proposals for the protection and/or redeployment of Ground Water Bodies (GWB) and implemented test investigation for artificial recharge . The condition of the ground water system on Zakynthos island are described in the River Basin Management Plan and the project implements measures of the River Basing Management Plan.
The project provided information for the municipal water company for
- Optimisation of the management of Ground Water Bodies (GWB) in terms of water quality and quantity
- Better control and enforcement measures for projects and activities that will be assessed as contributing to the degradation of Ground Water Bodies (GWB)
- Designing and launching measures that will contribute positively to improving water quality and quantity in the Ground Water Bodies (GWB)
- Development of bilateral relations between institutions of the donor countries and Greece for the exchange and transfer of knowledge and experience and for the strengthening of networking and future cooperation between them
Summary of bilateral results
Institute for Energy and Technology (IFE) center in Norway did the analyses of stable isotopes and boron and chlorine isotopes in IFE laboratories. The collaboration with IFE of Norway was excellent and provided the project with highly valuable research results that could not have been obtained without this partnership. The results revealed the true scale of the problem in the research area. University of Patras hopes to continue the collaboration with IFE center through a research proposal that has already been submitted and anticipates positive outcomes from the upcoming EEAGrants.