2. ASOPOS
The main springs of the river are on mountain Kitherona .
Its length is 57 km and crosses the areas Sikamino, Oropo, Schimatari and Inofita
3. The river Asopos crosses the borders of the
counties Viotia and Attiki.
In the circle you can see the areas which belong to the industrial zone.
4. The pollution of surface and underwater
hydrological basin of Asopos by the
uncontrolled disposal of industrial and
other waste is already known.
The surrounding territories along with the
marine and coastal environment of the
estuary have both been polluted.
5. The role of society in the problem
1969: Installation and operation of plants in areas
near Asopos.
September 1990: According to a study by the
National Technical University of Athens the quality of
the water is found to be of poor quality and
unsuitable for drinking ,irrigation and industrial use.
May 1996: environmental study by ETVA ( a Ltd.
Company whose role is the
design, development, operation and management of
Industrial Estates and Business Parks ).Potential
sources of pollution are mapped.
Αugust 2007:The State General Chemical Laboratory
detects hexavalent chromium of industrial origin in
the underground layers of water in the area.
6. The problem of the Pollution
nowadays.
Raw sewage is illegally channeled by the surrounding factories .Since
1970 tonnes of toxic waste from the food industry, metal
processing, leather tanning factories, dyeing companies, cooling
machines to mention some ,as well as sewage, agricultural chemicals
, garbage, debris , pollutants from livestock farms have turned the
river into a graveyard.
7. Asopos has hexavalent Chromium
The underground water layers of Viotia , N.Attiki and S.Evia have
been polluted by Asopos with hexavalent chromium. In New Artaki
there has been detected hexavalent chromium concentration of 900
ppm / l, when the limit is 50ppm.
8. Industrial waste in the river
Since 1969 , according to a Presidential decree, Asopos has
been designated a recipient of treated industrial waste.The
river crosses areas that provide the 20% of industrial
production in Greece.
9. Hundreds of industries dispose their waste in
the river Asopos. Most of this polluted water
is absorbed in the ground and spread
throughout the underground layer of water.
As a result a vast area has been polluted with
waste and heavy metals, such as carcinogenic
and mutagenic hexavalent chromium.
10. In one of the samples the chromium was at levels 50
times higher than permitted.
Large concentrations of heavy metals
(manganese, lead, iron, cadmium) and
chromium were detected in the river.
11. The water is unsuitable
Today the river is in serious danger of pollution because of the raw
sewage ,many carcinogenic metals in particular ,which are channeled
illegally in its bottom. According to many tests the water has been
proved improper for any use.
12. 1. Rough and hazardous industrial waste is
channeled in the river which then contaminates
the aquifers and the marine environment in the
estuary.
2. Uncontrolled disposal of solid and liquid
industrial waste on the ground which as a result
cause permanent sources of pollution on surface
and ground water and neighboring territories.
3. Waste accumulation in the forecourt areas of
the industries which is carried away by the rain
and creates pollution.
13. 4.Emission of polluted gases which are
dissolved by the rain waters and then
transported to the ground.
5. Use of contaminated water for irrigation
6. Excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides
14. the water is toxic
Until today there has been no epidemiological study to assess the
health risks of human exposure to toxic water .
15. According to the environmental organisation
“ Mediterranean SOS ” toxic
chemicals, barium, nickel, cobalt, iron and
manganese detected in the waters of Asopos
are likely to have gone to crops through
irrigation.
Chromium entering a plant or in a bulb
becomes hexavalent or trivalent and in small
amounts is considered harmless. But within
the human body it can be converted to a
carcinogenic element , especially if you have
consumed alcohol.
16. Which vegetables are dangerous to consume?
High levels of nickel and chromium have been found in:
carrots, onions, spinach and potatoes.
17. Farms in the area use the water of the river
and as a result the animals get infected.
There is some hope for fish. In the past there
were some species of fish in the river such as
attikopsaro , paskoviza ,a kind
ofpotamokefalou and eel, which are now
found only in the estuary. Attikopsara have
also been found near the source of Asopos.
When the river is cleaned promptly the
species will live again in its waters.
18. Hexavalent chromium is the most dangerous
of all metals because it is carcinogenic and
mutagenic. It affects the entire immune
system by contact, inhalation, drinking water,
and through food eating.
It also leads to carcinogenesis and damage
to the kidneys and liver.
The percentages of children with asthma in
the area Oinofyta have increased.
19. 1. Since 2010 there has been a strict control of
all sources of pollution.
2.The area of Oinofita has already taken water
from another river Mornos.
3. Old laws which allowed factories to dispose
their waste in the river Asopos have been
withdrawn.
4. The industries that break the law pay large
fines and are forced to upgrade their systems of
wastewater treatment.
5. Special facilities for hazardous waste
treatment are under construction.
20. 1.Collect and treat industrial waste and
sewage.
2. Plan in advance the disposal of waste when
a new factory is constructed.
3.Collect and treat carefully the industrial
waste before disposed in special areas.
4. Locate the sites of illegal waste disposal.
To set up programmes so that these areas
will be cleaned.
21. 5. Forbid all illegal drillings, especially those
used by industries to shed their effluents.
6. Make geologic studies to determine the
extent of contamination.
7. Clean the riverbed with the appropriate
cleaning methods.
8. Establish permanent stations so as to
check the quality of the water.
9. Make all actions required by the European
Union and the Greek law, so in 2015 to clean
up all the water.
22. Asopos wants to live
The river crosses inhabited areas and is a source of life for the
residents
