Two of the greatest problems of the human society are those related to water shortage and the degradation of the environment. The main causes of water shortage problems are (i) the demographic explosion, (ii) the rising of living standards, (iii) the short-term climatic changes and (iv) the management of water resources. It has been made clear that the measures taken so far have not solved the problem. This failure is connected to the following: (i) Anti-flooding protection is regarded independently from water-shortage problems. (ii) The overflow of rainwater during wintertime is left unexploited. The application of the artificial recharge of the aquifers would clearly improve the situation, not only in a quantitative but also in a qualitative way.
Water is also necessary for the conservation of hydrotopes and hydro-biotopes, mainly those developing around the Deltas. The construction of dams results in the retention of the sediment load, thus leading to problems in areas of Deltas.
Our proposals: (i) The application of the artificial recharge of the aquifers should be encouraged since it does not affect the sediment load. (ii) The existing and the programmed works should be reconsidered and adjusted to the spirit of the 2000/60 E.U. Directive.
It is known that two of the greater problems
of the modern society are the water shortage and
the degradation of the environment. These two
problems are directly related to the following
factors (mainly):
(i) The abrupt and uncontrollable, up to this
time at least, increase of the world population,
a phenomenon that is known as the
“demographic explosion”. We should not
forget that the world population has tripled
over the previous century (20th century) and that the 4/5 of this increase was observed
after 1950.
(ii) The unusual socio-economic development,
particularly after the 2nd World War, that
resulted to the rise of the living standards.
(iii) The small scale climatic changes [1].
It has been estimated that, when the world
population doubles, the suitable water reserves
of our planet will not suffice to cover the watersupply,
irrigation, industrial and other needs. We
could claim that, almost everywhere, a regime
of water shortage has been established, which is
more severe in some areas.
The water sufficiency, however, is not only
a quantitative problem, i.e. it is not only connected
to the precipitation, but it is also a qualitative one.
This happens because it is possible, even in
regions where, due to the favorable climatic
conditions, there is water sufficiency, nevertheless,
for various reasons, the water, surface and/
or groundwater, is polluted in such degree that
it has become inadequate for water supply, as
well as for other uses, depending on the type
of pollution.
Of course, in Greece the rate of population
increase is one of lowest and it is not predicted
to change over the next decades. In our country,
given the Mediterranean climate, the problem of
water shortage is connected mainly to the rise of
the living standards, to the urbanization, to the
irrational water use in the agricultural and industrial
activities, as well as to the lack of “proper”
environmental policy. All these factors lead to
the pollution of the surface and ground water, as
it happens, for example, with the excessive (and
unnecessary) use of fertilizers.
