Peristeri water drain Effect in Greece

A Peristeri water drain effect has been observed in Greece, where large areas have experienced a marked decrease in rainfall over the last two decades. The drain effect is characterised by a decrease in the volume of water that flows down Peristeri drains, and a corresponding increase in the amount of water that accumulates in the surrounding soil and groundwater systems. In many cases, this has resulted in severe flooding of agricultural land, posing a serious threat to food security in a region that is already at risk of chronic food insecurity.

Result of Soil Sealing

The Peristeri water drain effect is the result of soil sealing, a process where fine clay particles gradually accumulate on the surface slopes of the Peristeri. These fine clay particles prevent water from penetrating the soil, thereby restricting the flow of surface water through the drainage channels. As a result, large volumes of rainwater accumulate within the Peristeri system, eventually leading to overflows that cause flooding of the surrounding area. And the best possible solution would be to repair that by a professional like Apofraxeis Athina (αποφραξεισ αθηνα).

Soil Sealing

Soil sealing is commonly observed in arid climates, and is a major contributor to flash flooding. However, it is a relatively new phenomenon in Greece, where it is particularly pronounced in rural areas of the agriculturally-marginal south and southeast of the country. In some affected areas, the extent of soil sealing is so great that runoff no longer passes through the Peristeri system at all, resulting in large-scale accumulation of water and consequent flooding. Water management is one of the most pressing issues facing Greece today, due to its severe impact on public health and the national economy. The scale of the problem is particularly acute in southern and south-eastern regions of the country, which are already prone to severe droughts and crop failure. And most of the problems caused by water drains can be resolved with a professional service like αποφραξεισ περιστερι.

Drought and Soil Degradation Caused

In recent years, tens of thousands of hectares of arable land have been destroyed or severely degraded as a result of prolonged periods of drought and soil degradation caused by excessive soil erosion. The loss of arable land is attributed partly to erosion, and partly to soil sealing. FAO estimated that soil erosion rates in Greece are 30–40 t/ha/yr and that 12% of the total area of cultivated land had been eroded in 2012. In addition, several recent studies have documented the detrimental effects of soil sealing on crop yields and irrigation efficiency. For example, one study showed that fields with high levels of soil sealing had significantly lower yields than those with low levels of sealing. Another study estimated that soil erosion in Greece was 3.4–4.5 t ha-1 yr-1, while soil sealing rates ranged from 1.4 to 3.2 t ha-1 yr-1.

A study of 2013

In 2013, a study that estimated soil erosion in Greece using empirical models like RUSLE found that over half of the country’s agricultural land had experienced some degree of erosion over the past 60 years. Another recent study estimated that soil erosion rates in Greece range from 6 to 8 t ha-1 yr-1. 

While sealing is a natural process that occurs gradually over time, it can be accelerated by human activities such as overgrazing and the use of heavy machinery in agricultural practice.