Management Plan

The Management Plan for the River Water Basin of the Aegean Islands Water District, which was approved by the National Water Committee, is a comprehensive and innovative effort to protect and manage water resources. Furthermore, it is the main institutional tool introduced in the water sector at European Union level. Similar tools are being adopted internationally for many years, reflecting the trend towards integrated environmental planning and sustainable management, with the aim of long-term protection of surface and groundwater and ecosystems.

• The directive creates a framework which:
• Prevents further degradation, protects and improves the condition of all water resources.
• Promotes sustainable water management, through long-term protection of available water resources.
• Enhances the protection of the aquatic environment by implementing measures to reduce the discharge of pollutants and eliminate the discharge of certain hazardous pollutants identified and updated in specific lists of priority substances.
• Ensures the gradual reduction of groundwater pollution and the gradual restoration of their quality.
• Contributes I dealing with the effects of extreme events, floods and droughts.

The Management Plan is the main planning tool and the central reporting mechanism of the country to the European Commission regarding water resources and ecosystems. Greece is summoned to design and implement Management Plans for each of its institutionally recognized 14 Water Districts. The Water District is a land area that is drained by rivers and the corresponding coastal waters and includes individual Basins.

A Management Plan is a strategic planning document, which corresponds to a River Basin District and provides the necessary information and operational instructions for integrated water management within a river basin. The Management Plan provides a general description of the characteristics of rivers, lakes, coastal waters, ground waters and water-related protected areas. In particular, they include:

• A summary of the significant pressures and impacts of human activities on the waters,
• The water monitoring network and the results of the monitoring, which show the ecological, chemical and quantitative status of the waters,
• A list of the environmental objectives set for the waters,
• A summary of the economic analysis of water uses,
• A summary of the programs of measures to be adopted.
• A report assessing the environmental impact of the measures to be taken. This assessment report is called the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA).

The effects of the implementation of the Management Plans in Greece can only be positive, at a time when the country's water resources are facing ever-increasing pressures. The implementation of the Management Plans lays the foundations for supporting a sustainable water management policy that will lead to the effective protection and rational use of our valuable water resources.