Environmental engineering

Local mayors along the Kifissos River in Athens have raised alarm about the potential for catastrophic flooding, with 250,000 residents and vital infrastructure at risk.

A recent National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) report highlights the southern stretch of the river as the most vulnerable, warning that the area is already at its limit for stormwater drainage.

Greece is being referred to the European Court for the fourth time over "widespread failures" in urban wastewater management. 

The case brought by the European Commission pertains to 153 medium-sized towns and cities (from 2,000 to 15,000 residents), where Greece continues to flout directives for protecting public health and the environment.

Every day, 10-15 villages in the Varna region experience water shortages due to the depletion of local water sources, exacerbated by high temperatures and a lack of rainfall over the past month. This was highlighted in front of BNT by engineer Veselin Rusev, the manager of Waterworks - Varna, following a meeting with mayors of the most affected municipalities in the region.

Le Figaro highlights Leipsi as one of Greece’s “secret” islands, standing out in 2024 for its remarkable allure. The French newspaper describes Leipsi as having “dozens of exotic islands that resemble confetti and possess an unreal beauty that visitors fall deeply in love with.” It emphasizes that the time has come for the unexplored picturesque “corners” of the Aegean to take center stage.

In line with the Lake Van Basin Protection Action Plan, efforts have begun to clean up mud from the lake bed, which is causing a pungent smell and making it look not so appealing to the eye.

After the commissioning of the Van Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and the reduction of pollution caused by animal waste, the removal of bottom mud has gained momentum.

Bled/Radovljica – The peak of the tourist season at Lake Bled resulted in large quantities of malodorous waste being washed off into the only outlet from the lake, the local environmental organisation has warned, adding that the Sava Bohinjka river is also full of algae. This resulted in the nearby fish farm having to euthanise thousands of fish due to poisoning.

The heaviest rainfall in decades has triggered floods and landslides in southern China, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, state media reported.

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is working on a bill to fight mucilage in the Marmara Sea that would require municipalities to construct dozens of advanced treatment facilities.

The floods followed record amounts of rain that fell in parts of Western Europe.
Professor Hannah Cloke, a hydrologist who set up and now advises the European Flood Awareness System (an EU program designed to provide early warnings of dangerous floods) said alerts were sent to authorities in Europe over the weekend.

The egg was recovered from a cesspit in central Israel