Project Summary

Drinking Water-Irrigation

CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE LAND RECLAMATION PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE THIRD SUPPORT COMMUNITY FRAME WORK OF THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT. COMPLEMENTARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDIES FOR THE PROJECT: CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE IRRIGATION WORKS AT THE PLAIN AREA OF MORNOS IN PREFECTURES AITOLOAKARNANIA AND FOKIDA

Client:  Ministry of Rural Development - Department of Land Reclamation
Year:    2003

ISSUE
The purpose of the study was the renewal and modification of the Environmental Terms of the project for the construction of the irrigation works at the plain area of Mornos with a total area of 2.300 hectares.

SOLUTION                                                                                 View of the Project Area
The initial final design, which served as the basis for the approval of the first Environmental Terms, included water intake works, conveyance, storage and distribution works, sewer and drainage works and rural roadway works.

However, the original environmental assessment study identified the following environmental problems:

1. conservation of the littoral wetlands and the swamp of Gouvous
2. maintenance of minimum flow downstream of the water intake spillway for the recharge of the aquifer

To address the above environmental problems, the original final design was modified as follows:

• abandonment of the water intake works at the spring “Govous” and several water wells
• water extraction from the springs “Apostolokosta” and “Maltosouda” via pump stations

The networks design study did not include the littoral area which belongs to the protected NATURA system as well as the area of 50 hectares resulted from the expansion of the city plan for the communities of Managoulis and Malamaton.

Further, the revised study included an area of 30 hectares in the location of Kastraki. The area does not belong to a land consolidation zone and the irrigation water is distributed via PVC pipeline network.

The surface waters are drained towards the coastline. Based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the spring “Apostolokosta” has a flowrate of 793m3/h and the spring “Maltosouda” 1.246m3/h at peak irrigation demand. These water quantities increase significantly (up to 3 times) after the clean-up of the springs from the vegetation (source of information: Department of Land Reclamation, Prefecture of Fokida). Due to this increase in the flow, both springs were included in the project.
 
The study included detailed description of the above project modifications and description of the existing condition. The environmental impact assessment of the project did not demonstrate any negative impact on the natural and human environment of the area.

BENEFIT
The study was submitted to the responsible public authority for renewal and modification of the environmental terms. The construction of the work contributed in resolving the problem of irrigation of the plain area of Mornos.