Drinking Water-Irrigation
Client: Ministry of Agriculture-General Service of Land Reclamation Projects
Year: 1997
ISSUE
The purpose of the study was the preapproval of the project implementation and approval of the Environmental Terms for the construction of the irrigation network II in the region of Serres.
SOLUTION
The project location is extended within in the central plain zone of the Prefecture of Serres and bounded west-southwest-south by the embankment of the Strymonas River and north-northeast by the ditch of Belitsa.
The project was designed to solve the hydraulic problems in the wider plain area of Serres and to fully develop and intensify the agricultural activity in the broader service area by resolving the problem of water losses through infiltration to the subsoil.
The environmental aspect of the projects was examined based upon agricultural and technical data. The projects were the following:
• Flood protection works which included the opening of the riverbed of torrent Chrousovotis in order restore its operation.
• Sewerage and drainage works which included the construction of a high density and deep tertiary drainage network that is capable for depleting the subsoil water table in the regions of former drainage networks in the communities of Anagennisi, Vamvakia, Mitrousiou and Adelfikou (Camila).
• Irrigation works which include:
-Water intake and adductor channel
-Pumping stations and nine (9) water equalization tanks
-Main channels
-Irrigation networks of reinforced channels
• Rural roadway works consisting of primary and secondary collection roads on an estimated agricultural surface of 105.000 hectares.
Based on the development plan, the main agricultural product is estimated to be the rice in a 50% percentage of the whole area. Moreover, property redistribution was necessary throughout the whole area.
In the current study, the exact locations for the construction of the works were identified and the existing condition of the natural and human environment was examined. Additionally, the feasibility of the works was demonstrated and a technical description of the works was performed.
Finally, the environmental impact from the construction and operation of the works was described and the mitigating actions during construction and operation phases were provided.
BENEFIT
This study was submitted to the responsible authority for the approval of the Environmental Terms of the proposed works and contributed to the resolution of the hydraulic problems of irrigating the plain areas of Serres.