WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THESSALY REGION (GREECE) AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Thessaly is a rural region and consequently, the economic development is affiliated with the primary sector of economy. The employment in this sector is related to the size of rural areas. while the agricultural products serve as raw materials to the secondary sector. Water resources constitute a basic factor that influences the quantity of rural production and consequently, the exploitation and their rational management play a decisive role to the economic development of region. The demand for irrigation water, which especially during the summer months is great. shows significant regional variations in water availability. The most important issue is that water resources are not sufficient, while a significant part of water volume leads, mainly during the winter months, unexploited to the sea. In order to overcome the water shortage, several hydraulic public works are implemented. The major hydraulic work is the diversion of the Acheloos river to Thessaly. In this paper the economic situation of the Thessaly region, the demand and the supply of water resources as well as the prospective being developed after the construction of the afore-mentioned hydraulic work are analysed.