• risk of accidents especially in children (deaths by drowning happened in the past)
• heavy water pollution and stinky odors threatening the health of residents
  
• contamination sources along the ditch
• aesthetic degradation
• increase of the mosquito population
  

Furthermore, at the perimeter and within the torrent were dumped debris, household solid waste and residues from agricultural activities (pesticides bottles, fertilizer bags, etc). These actions clearly contributed to further deterioration of the water used for irrigation and the environment of the region threatening public health.

The Mitrousis torrent drains the water runoff from the rice fields of the region during the summer months. Additionally, the stormwater runoff of the region is drained within the torrent. The flow was set at 1.50m3/sec after negotiations with the Department of Agriculture in Serres and local irrigation water distributors (TOEB).

The cross section of the ditch encasement was rectangular with dimensions 2.60m x 1.20m. The ditch encasement had an overall length of 1.660m.

The pipeline within the encasement was constructed of reinforced concrete C16/20 with a thickness of 30cm. The installation took place on a concrete base with thickness of 10cm on top of a layer of gravel. Moreover, manholes were constructed for cleaning of the pipeline.

BENEFIT
The design of the ditch encasement works solved the problems caused by the open ditch (torrent) of Municipal District of Kato Mitrousi of Municipality of Kapetan Mitrousis.