EnviFriendly - Environmental Friendly Technologies for Rural Development

The drainage basin of the River Evrotas suffers from over-use of river water, meaning that the river can sometimes dry up completely with devastating effects for fish populations. The area also suffers from high levels of both point and non-point pollution, but in particular from agricultural sources such as the use of pesticides and effluent from the olive oil and orange juice sectors. The objective of the project was to develop an integrated management plan for the Evrotas River Basin and coastal zone, combining the latest environmentally friendly technologies and socio-economic factors. When completed, the project successfully developed such an integrated management plan for the River basin, covering six axes: agricultural development; drinking water; irrigation; pollution reduction; flood and drought response; and biodiversity protection. More specifically, it established monitoring stations to check hydrological and physico-chemical parameters in the river basin. A risk assessment of environmental stresses and modelling scenarios were carried out. Wells were installed at two drainage canal sites at Skala-Vasilopotamos and systematic sampling of sediment, reeds, and ground and surface waters conducted. Prototype units to treat waste from local olive oil mills and the wastewater from table olives producing companies were tested. A report on the demonstration and evaluation of the agricultural waste management technologies was produced and included suggested amendments which could make the tested technologies even more effective. Socio-economic concerns were assessed through meetings and surveys of local stakeholders.