INTCATCH 2020 presentation in Koumoundourou Lake

28 May 2019, Attiki, Greece

A demonstration of the INTCATCH boats took place on the 28th of May 2019 in Koumoundourou Lake (Attiki Greece). The presentation, was organized by Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYDAP S.A.) and the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters (IMBRIW) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). The demonstration was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, of the Southern Hellenic Inspectorate, of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Environmental Organizations (Friends of Nature). The presentations that took place concerned the current water quality monitoring programs in Greek Inland waters (lake and rivers), as well as the historical and environmental background of Koumoundourou Lake and the surrounding area. Then, the operation of the INTCATCH boats, was demonstrated in real environment by the INTCATCH partners and was tested by IMBRIW scientific personnel. The main aim, was to inform stakeholders about the management, monitoring and protection of surface water in Greece and about the tools and services that were developed in the INTCATCH program.

Within an hour, the self-propelled boats, like floating ‘robot labs’, covered much of the inner perimeter of the lake. The concentration of Chla ranged from 9.9 to 16.9 µg/l and was elevated in the northeast part of the lake, north of the gate, probably due to the movement of water in this direction and the influx of groundwater. The conductivity concentration ranged from 2810 to 3047 µS/cm with its values continuing the steady decreasing trend recorded by HCMR studies from 1984 until today. The maximum values were determined in northeast, indicating a small inflow of seawater mixing with the underground inlets.

It was concluded that the use of INTCATCH autonomous boats in cooperation and Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters (IMBRIW) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), can contribute to more complete and better control of the lake's quality, identifying potential contamination from anthropogenic activities or even physical processes.