3. Range of Circumstances in Attica

The Water Region of Attica covers an area of 3,207 km². There are several mountains (Parnitha, Kitheronas, Penteli, Imitos, Egaleo, Pateras) and plains on the coastal zone, and the mean elevation is 115 m. The administrative region also includes a few islands, major ones being Egina, Salamis and the uninhabited Makronissos and small parts of the districts of Sterea Ellada (Voiotia) and Peloponnesus. Attica borders Sterea Ellada to the north, Peloponnesus to the south, its eastern shoreline is on the south Evoikos Gulf and the Aegean and its western shoreline is on the Saronikos Gulf.

Its two main rivers are Illissos and Kifissos, which in the urbanized areas have been transformed into covered stormwater conduits and drain into Saronikos Gulf. Their drainage basin covers 320 km²; none of the drainage basins in Attica are larger than 600 km². There are two small natural lakes, Lake Vouliagmene and Lake Koumoundourou.  The reservoir of Marathon, which is used for the water supply of the metropolitan Athens area, is located in the drainage basin of the Charadros River (185 km²), and its capacity is 41 hm³.

 

Table 9. Surface of the drainage basins in Attica

Drainage Basin	Surface (km2)
Kiffisos and Illissos Rivers	320
Sarantapotamos River	310
Charadros River	185

 

The climate is Mediterranean continental, and the average temperature is 16 – 18°C. The average annual rain height is 400 mm, ranging from less than 400 mm in the south coastal areas to 600 mm at the mainland and 1,000 mm on the mountains. Rain frequency is 50 to 100 days per year. The precipitation is 1,698 hm³/yr and the total runoff 259 hm³/yr. Snowfall is very rare at the coastal areas but does occur on the mountains between October and April.

Figure 2. Mean monthly precipitation for the period 1955-1995 in Attica

Figure 3. Annual rainfall in Attica

Permeable geological formations cover a significant amount of the total area; karstic limestone formations cover the east and west part of the region. The total water availability is about 449 hm³ and this amount consists of 259 hm³ surface water and 190 hm³ potential groundwater. The groundwater can be found in the karstic and alluvial aquifers of the region.

Table 10. Hydrological Entities of Attica

Hydrological Entities	Surface (km2)	Total Runoff (hm3/yr)	Potential Groundwater (hm3/yr)
Karstic entities in limestone formations
South Parnitha – East Pateras - Egaleo	510	157	120
Kitheronas	260	75	50 - 70
Gerania	250	42	20
Penteli	250	55	30
Ymitos	110	15	30
Northeastern Parnitha	300	95	60
Total		439	250 - 27022
Alluvial aquifers
Athens	440	30	5
Mesogeia	820	50	15
Megara	260	15	3
Loutraki	320	20	4
Total		115	27

 

Figure 4. Generated discharge in Attica

There is no systematic monitoring of surface water quality in Attica, but as rivers are the recipients of unprocessed wastewater, they are generally in poor condition and their exploitation for supply purposes is unattainable. The treatment plant of Psytalleia treats 80-90% of the produced domestic wastewater. Many of the local industries use the sewage systeml, but some, through illegal connections, dump their effluents directly into rivers and torrents or into the sea, which results to the deterioration of the quality of surface and ground water.

Monitoring results for ground water show that nitrates exceed the critical load for drinking water. In certain areas with significant industrial activity, high concentrations of heavy metals also occur.

The main pollutant loads produced in Attica for the year 1996 were estimated as:

·         BOD₅: 120,000 ton/year

·         TSS: 420,000 ton/year

·         Total nitrogen: 20,000 ton/year

·         Total phosphorus: 8,000 ton/year

Attica has 3,761,810 inhabitants (2001) and includes the country's capital district. The main economic activities are commerce, industry, agriculture and tourism. The region produces 36% of the GNP, while the per capita product is €12,560, and the mean declared income per inhabitant was €6,930 in 2000. The unemployment rate in the region is 10.4%. The total annual water demand is 408 hm³, of which 289 hm³ is for domestic use, 101.5 hm³ for agricultural use and 17.5 hm³ for industrial use. The consumption index is estimated to be 69% and the population to water resources index is equal to 4,494. The exploitation index is 49%.

In order to satisfy the increased demand, a significant amount of water is imported from the Water Region of West Sterea Ellada (Rivers Mornos and Evinos), and also from the Water Region of East Sterea Ellada (Lakes Iliki and Paralimni). Desalination plants are used to cover industrial demand.

The supply of water and wastewater services is effected by EYDAP S.A., the biggest water company in Greece, and therefore the level of cost recovery for water services in this region is good. The pricing of water is set on the basis of the services provided and is not subject to political pressures. Attica is the only part of Greece where demand management through pricing control has been effective, in the drought periods in the 1990’s. As a consequence, public education on water conservation issues is on average better than in most other regions of the country, although there is little to no public participation on water-related decisions. Decision making in water issues in Attica is effected on the national level, as the region is under the direct control of the Ministry of the Environment.

Figure 5. Water uses in Attica

Figure 6. Percentage of the total water use in Attica in proportion with the water use in the country

Table 11. Attica Matrix

Natural conditions and infrastructure	Regional Context	Climate Type	Mediterranean
		Aridity Index	0.31- Semi-Arid
		Permanent Population	3,761,810
	Water availability	Total Water Resources /Availability (hm3)	449
		Trans-boundary water	388
	Water quality	Quality of surface water	-
		Quality of groundwater	Poor
		Quality of coastal water	Fair - Poor
	Water Supply	Percentage of supply coming from: v      Groundwater v      Surface water v      Desalination, Recycling v      Importing23	17% - - 83%
		Network coverage: v      Domestic v      Irrigation v      Sewerage	100% - 90%
Economic and Social System	Water use	Water consumption by category: v      Domestic v      Tourism v      Irrigation v      Industrial and energy production	71% - 25% 4%
		Population to resources index	4494
	Water demand	Water Demand trends	Decreasing
		Consumption index	69%
		Exploitation index	49%
	Pricing system	Average household budget for domestic water (pa)	€117
		Average household budget for agricultural water
		Average household income	€ 20639
		Cost recovery	Good
		Price elasticity	Fair
	Social capacity building	Public participation in decisions	Poor
		Public education on water conservation issues	Fair
Decision Making Process	Water Resources Management	Water ownership	State
		Decision making level (municipal, regional, national) regarding: v      Water supply for each sector v      Water resources allocation for each sector	National National
	Water Policy	Local economy basis	Tertiary sector
		Development priorities	Urban growth