A team from the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (H.S.G.M.E.), consisting of Mr. Ioannis Michalakis, Head of the Regional Unit of Crete, and geologist Ms. Eleni Tsolaki, visited the island of Kythera as part of the project S.A.M.Y. II, “Systematic Inventory of Water Boreholes of All Uses throughout the Country.”
During their visit, the H.S.G.M.E. team met at the Kythera Town Hall with the Mayor, Mr. Efstratios Charchalakis, the Deputy Mayor responsible for Water Supply and Sewerage, Mr. Panagiotis Zantiotis, and the Head of the Water Supply and Sewerage Service, Mr. Konstantinos Stathis.
In the meeting, the Mayor was informed about the objectives and progress of the S.A.M.Y. II project, while discussions took place regarding the island’s water supply conditions and challenges. Both sides expressed their intention to cooperate in updating existing studies previously conducted by H.S.G.M.E. (formerly I.G.M.E.) concerning the island’s hydrogeological conditions.
During their stay, the H.S.G.M.E. geologists carried out fieldwork jointly with Mr. Panagiotis Zantiotis and Mr. Konstantinos Siarmalis, hydraulic engineer of the Municipality of Kythera, conducting site inspections and measurements at the island’s municipal water boreholes. In addition, measurements were taken at all springs and wells across the island.
The purpose of the S.A.M.Y. II project is the systematic and comprehensive recording of water boreholes of all uses within all Groundwater Systems of the country, aiming to estimate the extractable quantities of water, both per use (drinking, irrigation, industrial, etc.) and per Groundwater System (G.W.S.).
The project’s results support the activities of the General Directorate for Water of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN) and aim to strengthen Greece’s water policy, ensuring the quality and quantity of its water resources while fulfilling the obligations arising from the European Union Directives (60/2000/EC, 118/2006/EC, and 91/676/EEC).
The project is funded by the Operational Programme “Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development” of the ESPA 2014–2020 (2023).