The Distribution of Copper in Saronicos Gulf after the Operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Psitalia

The establishment of the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Athens is considered as the main factor contributing
to the improvement of water quality and recovery of the marine ecosystem in Saronicos gulf
as it removes significant percentage of pollutants entering the gulf, including heavy metals.
The comparison of concentrations of dissolved and particulate copper during 1993, 1994 (before the
operation of the plant) and 1998, 1999 and 2000 (after the beginning of the operation) revealed that
some changes in the distribution of copper occurred because of this major change concerning the pollution
sources of the gulf.
The effects are both direct, like the increased concentrations in the sediments near Psitalia and the
slight decrease of mean values of dissolved copper and indirect, associated with the decrease of dissolved
oxygen in the deep water of the western basin, i.e. the decrease of dissolved copper in this layer
and the increase of copper concentrations in surface sediments.
The general conclusion of this study is that the overall picture of copper pollution of the gulf has differentiated
but not radically changed.