Linking Hydrogeological and Ecological Tools for an Integrated River Catchment Assessment |
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Authors: | Ioannis Karaouzas Elias Dimitriou Nikolaos Skoulikidis Konstantinos Gritzalis Eva Colombari |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 46.7 km Athens–Sounio Av., P.O. Box 712, Anavyssos, 19013, Attica, Greece |
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Abstract: | Ecological (biological and hydrochemical assessment) and hydrogeological (vulnerability and pollution risk mapping) tools
have been combined to assess the ecological quality and hydrogeological vulnerability of an agricultural river basin. In addition,
the applicability of the recently developed vulnerability assessment approach (COP method) in the particular environmental
conditions was tested by comparing its results with hydroecological assessment tools (i.e., pollution metrics). Five sampling
sites were selected and sampled for benthic macroinvertebrates and physicochemical variables during summer and spring. Overall,
sites ranged from moderate to poor ecological quality. The results illustrated that 26% of the study area was of moderate
pollution risk, while 65% was classified as of low and very low risk zones. However, the higher elevation zones where calcareous
rock formations are encountered presented moderate to high pollution risk that was accredited by the ecological quality assessment.
Pollution metrics facilitated from hydrochemical analysis indicated a significant association with groundwater vulnerability,
thus validating vulnerability and risk estimations. This study indicated that the particular groundwater pollution risk mapping
methodology and the water quality assessment indices can be well combined to provide an integrated evaluation tool at a catchment
scale. |
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