For the Gallikos River basin, the recorded changes in quantity parameters are in line with the increased anthropogenic activities during recent years. The changes in measured quantity parameters such as groundwater level or river discharge can be attributed to climate changes in a long-term examination or to anthropogenic activities in a short-term examination. These parameters are related to the anthropogenic activities that are in accordance with the socio-economic processes in the area. The selected key indicators for the monitoring of the water resources quality are some easily measured physicochemical parameters. The implementation of the DPSIR framework in a GIS for the Gallikos River basin is based on water resource quality and quantity data. The river is also affected by agricultural and industrial effluents. Despite the existence of the aforementioned operating treatment plants, the Gallikos River still remains receptor of untreated sewages from small size settlements that are located along the riverbed. A domestic effluent treatment plant operates in the areas of Sindos ( Figure 1) and Kilkis. The areas of service provision, transport and trade are also developed near major urban areas. The industrial zone, south of Kilkis city, consists of small and medium size enterprises, while the industrial zone of Sindos town consists of large-scale enterprises since it is part of the industrial zone of the broader metropolitan area of Thessaloniki. The industrial sector is developed in two zones close to the main urban areas. Agricultural activities and livestock are the main occupation of the majority of the inhabitants, especially at the areas along the Gallikos River. In the catchment area there is a spatial differentiation regarding the economic activities. The presentation of the proposed approach serves as a demonstration of the applicability of the proposed methodology in other basins, opting for efficient and effective data analysis that leads to reliable, easy and precise water resource management practiced with the help of a dynamic and versatile tool. Based on these results, the DPSIR technique was applied and actions for measures for the sustainable management of the river basin’s water resources were proposed. Most of the farmers were willing to assist with the monitoring network operation, in contrast to some local authorities that exhibited strong reservations to any cooperation on the assessment of environmental parameters. At the time that the fieldwork was conducted, the research team was in continuous communication with the farmers/breeders of the area and had established sincere cooperation. In a consequent phase, water demands per use were calculated and a thorough assessment of the quantity and chemical quality of water resources was performed. Monitoring points of the network had an adequate spatial distribution that sufficiently covered the entire basin. This was the first attempt to study the water resources of the basin based on systematic measurements at specified time intervals. The application of the DPSIR analysis in this paper links the socioeconomic drivers to the water resource pressures, the responses based on the WFD and the national legislation and is as a useful tool for land-use planning and decision making in the area of water protection.Ī preceding hydrogeological survey enabled, amongst other things, identification of the aquifer units that exist within the river basin and an estimation of their exploitable resources. Recommended responses were based on the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC, and sum up to rationalization of water resources, land use management and appropriate utilization of waste, especially so effluent. The main pressures on water resources are the overexploitation of aquifers, water quality degradation, and decrease of river discharge. The major driving forces that affect the Gallikos River basin are urbanization, intensive agriculture, industry and the regional development strategy. The holistic approach of the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework was applied in order to investigate the main causes and origins of pressures and to optimize the measures for sustainable management of water resources. The basin has been influenced by anthropogenic activities during the last decades, leading to continuous water resource degradation. The Gallikos River basin is located in the northern part of Greece, and the coastal section is part of a deltaic system.
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