REPORTAGE MACHITRATSA PANAGIOTAMBITSIKA<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWe drink and irrigate with dirty water. A cocktail of toxic substances and pathogenic microorganisms<\/strong> poisons our glass. Hexavalent<\/strong> chromium, lead, zinc, arsenic, cadmium<\/strong> and other toxic substances, nitrates<\/strong> and various residues of nitrogen fertilizers, as<\/strong> well as bacteria, are detected in very<\/strong> high concentrations in the water we drink<\/strong> and with which we irrigate. Contaminated sources<\/strong> and networks carry dangerous microbes and toxic substances into homes and crops. For years<\/strong> experts have been warning<\/strong> about the dangers posed by<\/strong> the long-term consumption of unsuitable<\/strong> waters, but the central administration remains deaf.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poisonous water, with the\u2026 stamp of university researchers, has been consumed for years by residents in areas of Attica and Boeotia, where the Asopos has turned into a sewage conduit. From time to time, serious problems have been identified in other regions of the country as well. Measurements in the Axios showed high concentrations of lead, zinc, cadmium, and arsenic; in the Aliakmon, chromium, nickel, and barium; in the Loudias and Pindus, copper and cobalt. In Evros, the Thessalian plain, the Argolic plain, and the plain of Thessaloniki, scientists recorded elevated nitrate levels in irrigation water. In the drinking water of Epirus, the research team from the University of Ioannina isolated strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. At the same time, the government is undermining the most competent authority, IGME (Institute of Geological and Mining Research), which for half a century has been engaged in the research, utilization, and protection of water resources, resulting in complete disorganization in water management. This is the first time in its history that, despite the significant problems in the quality and quantity of available water resources that are constantly coming to the forefront, IGME is notably absent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hundreds of thousands of residents and workers in the areas around Asopos, in Schimatari, in Dilesi, in Oropos, and in Oinofyta have been drinking “dirty water” for years, which poses a risk to their health due to toxic substances. The authorities were aware, but until recently, when the story was uncovered, no one was taking charge of coordinating the situation for the benefit of the local community, leaving industries unchecked to\u2026 run rampant with their waste. The tragedy is that even areas where officials assure there is no health risk are facing water that “smells” but does not “kill.” It is characteristic that in Karditsa, a city of 80,000 residents, there is unrest due to the foul smell of the drinking water. The water level in the reservoir\u2014almost all of Karditsa is supplied by Lake Plastira\u2014has dramatically dropped due to drought. Combined with climatic conditions, quantities of microalgae decomposed, resulting in the creation of foul odors in the water and a “muddy” taste. The municipality is implementing a water purification program using ozonation and activated carbon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the beginning of the year, measurements from the Environmental Pollution Control Laboratory of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the drinking water of eight settlements in the Municipality of Polykastro in the Kilkis Region showed that it contains high concentrations of hazardous substances, such as arsenic, nitrates, cadmium, antimony, and nickel. In fact, the residents of the villages of Aspros, Axiokhori, and Neo Sirrako were informed in early March by the current mayor of Polykastro, Mr. D. Smydaki<\/strong>, and the professor from AUTH, Mr. K. Fytianos<\/strong>, who conducted the measurements, that they have been consuming dangerous water for years, which they should not use even for cooking. Although new drilling was done in the villages of Aspros, where the problem was more severe, and Axiokhori, from which the settlement of Neo Sirrako was supplied, the problem remains in the other communities of the Municipality of Polykastro. “The state has broken its promises<\/em> that it had even emphasized during the pre-election period. The<\/em> residents in the communities of Kilkis who still have a problem are<\/em> desperate. They are forced to drink bottled water or travel<\/em> miles away to find drinking<\/em> water,\u201d<\/em> says Mr. Fytianos to “Vima.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNo action for the microbes in our glass from the authorities according to the report.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDespite the continuous complaints from universities and local authorities, the Greek government has never implemented a comprehensive plan to address the pollution of drinking water from heavy metals and other toxic elements. It is indicative that pollution from arsenic\u2014implicated in the onset of cancer and other serious diseases\u2014has been detected in many areas of the country. Reports from municipalities with water supply issues have at times reached Brussels for examination for referral to the European Court. Since 1999, analyses by the Ministry of Health have shown that drinking water in 15 small municipalities in Central Macedonia as well as in Corinth and Evia contained high concentrations of arsenic, nitrates, manganese, and other toxic substances. Today, the quality of drinking water in several areas still does not meet community requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three years ago, the research team of the Microbiology and Food Hygiene Unit of the Medical School of the University of Ioannina, in collaboration with the Department of Nuclear Physics of the same university, detected particularly high concentrations of heavy metals in five rivers of Northern Greece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The highest concentrations of arsenic have been detected in the Loudias, Axios, and Pindus rivers, copper and cobalt in the Loudias, chromium and nickel in the Aliakmonas, manganese and strontium in Mavroneri, barium in the Aliakmonas and Axios, where the levels of lead, zinc, and cadmium are very high, especially during the summer months. In addition to heavy metals, the research from the University of Ioannina also found high levels of microbial pollution. The long-term – largely uncontrolled – use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture is the number one factor for the pollution of groundwater and surface waters from nitrates. Monitoring of groundwater by scientists from IGME, based on an ongoing program, has revealed nitrate contamination in the Evros, in the Struma basin, and in Lake Kerkini, in areas of Larissa County, in the Argolic plain, and even in Attica. In many cases, the maximum permissible limits for drinking water are exceeded – in some areas even ten times!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To Vima: It’s not just in Attica that there are germs in our glass<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the Thessaloniki region, specifically in the basins of the Axios, Gallikos, and Loudias rivers, as well as in the lakes of Langada and Volvi, high concentrations of nitrogen compounds are observed. The same is true for areas with intensive cultivation in the Larissa region, while increased concentrations of nitrates are found in the underground aquifers of Spercheios. In the Peloponnese, the problem of groundwater pollution in the Argolic plain (mainly around Argos and Nafplio) has persisted for years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Microbes in our glass and toxic substances in tap water are identified by analyses. The water we consume and irrigate appears unsuitable according to numerous studies. We are sharing another such useful study from the newspaper “To Vima. REPORTAGE MACHITRATSA PANAGIOTAMBITSIKA We drink and irrigate with dirty water. A cocktail of toxic substances and pathogenic microorganisms poisons … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":23211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[157,158],"tags":[159],"class_list":["post-23210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-publications","category-water-fountain-water","tag-tap-water"],"acf":[],"cp_meta_data":{"_encloseme":["1"],"_wp_page_template":["default"],"_acf_changed":[""],"_featured_products":["field_featured_products_featured_products"],"_heateor_sss_meta":["a:2:{s:7:\"sharing\";i:0;s:16:\"vertical_sharing\";i:0;}"],"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":[""],"_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":["0"],"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":[""],"_pys_head_footer":[""],"_trp_automatically_translated_slug_en_US":["pinoyme-microvia-kai-toxikes-oysies"],"_wp_old_date":[""],"_wpgmp_extensions_fields":["s:2:\"N;\";"],"_wpgmp_location_address":[""],"_wpgmp_location_city":[""],"_wpgmp_location_country":[""],"_wpgmp_location_state":[""],"_wpgmp_map_id":["s:2:\"N;\";"],"_wpgmp_metabox_custom_link":[""],"_wpgmp_metabox_latitude":[""],"_wpgmp_metabox_location_redirect":["marker"],"_wpgmp_metabox_longitude":[""],"_wpgmp_metabox_marker_id":["s:2:\"N;\";"],"_wpgmp_metabox_taxomomies_terms":["s:2:\"N;\";"],"_wpml_word_count":["1253"],"_yoast_indexnow_last_ping":["1725432609"],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":["a:4:{s:6:\"origin\";s:38:\"en\/pinoyme-mikrovia-kai-toxikes-oysies\";s:6:\"target\";s:48:\"en\/we-are-drinking-microbes-and-toxic-substances\";s:4:\"type\";i:301;s:6:\"format\";s:5:\"plain\";}"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["30"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["6"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":["[]"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":["Bacteria in the glass"],"_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":["[\"\"]"],"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":["77"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["Bacteria in our glass! Antimicrobial faucet water filters for countertop, under-sink, and central supply with the guarantee of Camelot."],"_yoast_wpseo_title":["Bacteria in our glass! %%page%% %%sep%% Camelot"],"_yoast_wpseo_wordproof_timestamp":[""],"affwp_submission_forms_hashes":["a:0:{}"],"featured_products":[""],"footnotes":[""],"litespeed_vpi_list":["a:3:{i:0;s:21:\"greek-flag.3e623c.png\";i:1;s:62:\"filtro-nerou-vrysis-imperial-plus-ano-pagou-USAflag.55e258.png\";i:2;s:31:\"pexels-steve-johnson-861414.jpg\";}"],"stackable_optimized_css":[""],"stackable_optimized_css_raw":["a:0:{}"],"_thumbnail_id":["23211"],"_edit_lock":["1764766305:4"],"_last_translation_edit_mode":["native-editor"],"_edit_last":["4"],"_wpml_media_duplicate":["1"],"_wpml_media_featured":["1"],"_wp_old_slug":["pinoyme-mikrovia-kai-toxikes-oysies"],"aitrans_complete":["1"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["57"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23210\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cw.wpdev247.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}