“If we run out of renewable reserves from the underground aquifer, then yes the water can run out and create a series of serious problems for humanity,” said the president of the Hellenic Hydrotechnical Union, Dimitrios Karpouzos.
The optimization modelwhich will eventually lead to the integrated and rational management of water resources, through the new challenges that humanity is called to face, seek with all their might scientists of educational institutions of the country and representatives of competent bodies, sending the message that we should not it is taken for granted in anyone’s consciousness that water is inexhaustible.
«If we run out of renewable resources from the underground aquifer, then yes the water can run out and create a series of serious problems for humanity.“, Pointed out the president of the Hellenic Hydrotechnical Association Dimitrios Karpouzos, associate professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, speaking to APE-MPE, on the sidelines of the two-day, 15th Panhellenic Conference, which began today in Thessaloniki, entitled:” Ariston men ydo “.
«Today, more than ever, the entire scientific community is on the alert and proposing methods and modern tools that, with the participation of the whole society and its institutions, will lead to a sustainable model of use and management of the most valuable asset, water.“80% of the water today goes to agriculture and so it is very important to see how we will manage the irrigation water in conditions of climate change.” As he said, the modernization of irrigation networks, the application of precision methods and the adoption of modern techniques in irrigation systems, are some of the issues that the scientific community focuses on.
Referring to the utilization and rational management of groundwater resources, he pointed out that “it is the invisible treasure, which we try to make visible through our models and simulations and to manage it properly, so that after seeing our water reserves (we aim at renewables water reserves), to achieve over-exploitation, which leads to salinization and degradation of water quality “.
Besides, as he explained, the quality and quantity of water resources are inextricably linked, since when the quality of water deteriorates, its quantity also decreases, since we can not use it. He also pointed out that data collection is of utmost importance, since by studying them we can achieve reliable results and make serious assessments and timely forecasts and thus prevent e.g. the floods.
The assessment that those responsible “they build on solid foundations, so that in the future we do not have to say water“, expressed the president of GEOTEE, Spyros Mamalis.
He referred to the € 4 billion water program announced by the government with funding from the Recovery Fund, which includes a range of projects, from irrigation networks, water reservoirs to riverbeds, to crop restructuring. starting within the next month.
He stressed that through the program, 40 million euros will be allocated for digital agriculture and the use of precision agriculture, in order to create the appropriate infrastructure, for the benefit of farmers, but also of society, and added that a crucial role for Proper use and management of water resources will be played by agricultural consultants (specialized agronomists), who will “enter the field and give clear instructions and directions to farmers.”
The above-mentioned projects and programs are some of the answers given at the “technical level”, Mr. Mamalis pointed out and stressed the need to create a new institutional framework for TOEB and GOEB. “With the new institutional framework, the goal is to achieve the strengthening of the savings in the use of irrigation water, to make it possible to reduce energy costs and thus will hold prices for the citizens,” he noted.
“EYATH SA does not support the conference due to corporate social responsibility, but because its subject matter is at the core of the work and the object of the company. Half of the topics of the conference are the daily life of the company “, pointed out the vice president of the company, Grigoris Penelis, reiterating that the company does not intend to increase its tariff. Among other things, he clarified that based on the rational management of this valuable asset and in the context of efforts to protect the environment, the company has reduced to 28%, from 38% four years ago, water losses from its infrastructure.
The conference was characterized by the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Nikos Papaioannou, as a very important event that, on the one hand focuses on life itself, ie water, and on the other brings to the fore the cooperation and interdisciplinarity found in his study. “We live on a planet where every day we find that something is wrong. It is important to look at the rational management of water resources, so that future generations do not get to the point of discussing whether it is a valuable good as a good, but as a benefit to man.
Participating in the organization of the conference are the School of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment and the Polytechnic School of AUTh.
