The main springs of the river are on mountain Kitherona .Its length is 57 km and crosses the areas

Sikamino, Oropo, Schimatari and Inofita

ASOPOS

In the circle you can see the areas which belong to the industrial zone.

The river Asopos crosses the borders of the counties Viotia and Attiki.

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.

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.

The role of society in the problem

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.

The problem of the Pollution nowadays.

The underground water layers of Viotia , N.Attiki and S.Eviahave 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.

Asopos has hexavalent Chromium

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.

Industrial waste in the river

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Until today there has been no epidemiological study to assess the health risks of human exposure to toxic water .

the water is toxic

According to the environmental organisation“ Mediterranean SOS ” toxic chemicals, barium, nickel, cobalt, iron and manganese detected in the waters of Asoposare 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.

High levels of nickel and chromium have been found in: carrots, onions, spinach and potatoes.

Which vegetables are dangerous to consume?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The river crosses inhabited areas and is a source of life for the residents

Asopos wants to live

. internetwww.econews.gr.2012www.skai.grAsopossos.files.wordpress.comwww.kathimerini.grwww.inews.grWikipedia