As part of the project “Groundwater Monitoring Network” (DIPYN), implemented by the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (H.S.G.M.E.), the dry-season groundwater sampling and measurement campaign was successfully completed in October 2020.
A total of 26 field teams, consisting of 44 members, participated in the fieldwork. The teams conducted visits to 1,896 monitoring sites distributed across the country.
The fieldwork activities included:
- Measurement of groundwater levels in wells and boreholes, and flow measurements at springs.
- On-site measurements of physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, water and air temperature) using field instrumentation.
- Groundwater sampling for the determination of its qualitative characteristics.
The laboratory analyses and testing of samples are being conducted at the H.S.G.M.E. Analytical Laboratories and currently include the following parameters: Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, Cl, SO4 (major ions) and NO3, NO2, NH4, PO4-P (nitrogenous and phosphate compounds).
The project aims to monitor both the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of all groundwater systems in Greece, with an emphasis on those of high economic significance. Identifying trends of improvement or degradation in groundwater quality and quantity is among the key requirements set by the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC.
The project results are presented in Annual Evaluation Reports, which are further utilized in the preparation of the revised River Basin Management Plans, ultimately supporting water management policies and the sustainable use of groundwater resources.
The measurement and analysis results from each monitoring period are submitted in digital format to the Directorate for the Protection & Management of the Aquatic Environment (formerly EGY) of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Y.P.E.N.), which subsequently forwards the official data to the European Environment Commission as the national dataset on the status of groundwater.
Figure 1: Map of Groundwater Monitoring Network Stations – DIPYN
