Abstract
This article deals with the geological and hydrogeological characteristics of “Megalo Rema” basin which flows into the Gulf of Rafina in Eastern Attica, the hydrological balance is estimated and the surface water quality is analyzed. The estimation of the hydrological balance brings up proportion of surface runoff R:121.4mm=28.2%, real evapotranspiration ETreal:243.9mm=56.5% which responds to Mediterranean values and groundwater flow I:66.1mm=15%. The monthly observation of the surface water quality indicates high concentrations during the dry period and in reverse the wet period. The waters are alkaline; TDS values range from 1100 to 1485 mg/L and belong to the hydrochemical types Ca-Mg-Na-Cl-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-Na-Cl-HCO3-SO4. On the whole, the elements with geogenic origin are detected at the outfall of the river, while the trace elements deriving from human activities are detected in higher concentrations uphill of the river, by the pollution sources. The concentrations of Mn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and Zn exceed the maximum limits of the European directive for drinking water. Their presence is attributed to geogenic factors, as well as to soiling by fertilizers and pesticides’ application and by the area’s urbanization.
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Champidi, P., Stamatis, G., Parpodis, K., Kyriazis, D. (2011). Estimation of Hydrological Balance of “Rafina’s Megalo Rema” basin (Eastern Attica) and diachronic change of the surface water quality characteristics. In: Lambrakis, N., Stournaras, G., Katsanou, K. (eds) Advances in the Research of Aquatic Environment. Environmental Earth Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19902-8_43
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19902-8_43
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