Water resources assessment and management of karst aquifer systems in Greece

Groundwater resources of karst aquifers within Circum-Mediterranean are a vital natural resource, which have been exploited since the dawn of the Mediterranean civilization. In Greece, carbonate formations are thought to be one of the most important sources for various water uses, that are vital for the country’s economy and development, that is agriculture and water supply. In most cases, they are considered as integral parts of some of the most strategic hydrosystems in Greece, containing surface water and groundwater resources that secure water supply for several anthropogenic activities. This paper provides a review of different aquifer types in Greece (granular and karstic), focusing on karst hydrosystems. It presents their spatial distribution throughout the entire Greek territory, and describes the most important environmental stresses upon them, while it analyzes their importance and role to the country’s water supply. Finally, this study analyzes the river basin of (Central Greece), used as a reference hydrosystem, to prove the ample importance of karst reservoirs in Greece.