6.5.4
Sustainable Water Extraction on Campus
The University of Thessaly (UTh) is committed to ensuring that all water extracted, abstracted, or sourced for on-campus use is managed sustainably, efficiently, and responsibly.
This policy establishes the framework for monitoring, regulating, and minimizing water extraction, safeguarding aquifers and surface water bodies, and maintaining compliance with national and European environmental legislation.
Purpose
This policy aims to:
Ensure that all on-campus water extraction activities are conducted in accordance with sustainability principles;
Protect natural water resources from over-extraction and contamination;
Maintain data-driven control and transparency on the use of wells, boreholes, and other water sources;
Align water extraction practices with SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Legal and Strategic Framework
This policy is based on and compliant with:
Law 3199/2003 (Integrated Water Resources Management),
P.D. 51/2007 (transposing Directive 2000/60/EC),
Joint Ministerial Decision 146896/2014 (licensing and monitoring of water use),
EU Regulation 2020/741 (on water reuse and efficiency), and
the University of Thessaly Environmental Sustainability Plan.
Scope
This policy applies to:
All University campuses, facilities, experimental fields, and research centers that extract groundwater or surface water;
Water sources such as boreholes, wells, springs, and reservoirs used for irrigation, laboratory, or cleaning purposes;
All University departments and technical staff responsible for maintenance, monitoring, or operation of extraction systems.
Key Provisions
- Licensing and Compliance
All water extraction points (e.g. wells, boreholes) must operate under valid licensing in accordance with national and regional water authorities.
Extraction volumes must not exceed legally defined or hydrologically sustainable limits.
Unauthorized or unmonitored extraction is strictly prohibited.
- Monitoring and Measurement
All extraction points shall be fitted with certified water meters that continuously record flow and usage.
Data will be collected monthly and archived within the central water management system maintained by the Technical Services Department.
Each extraction source will be assigned a unique identification code for traceability and auditing.
- Sustainable Extraction Rates
Extraction rates shall be determined by hydrological assessments and aquifer recharge capacity studies conducted by the Departments of Civil Engineering and Agriculture.
Seasonal restrictions will apply during drought conditions, and extraction will be reduced or suspended if groundwater levels fall below safety thresholds.
- Water Quality Assurance
Extracted water will be subject to quality testing at least twice annually to ensure compliance with public health and environmental standards.
Any sign of contamination, salinization, or chemical imbalance shall trigger an immediate technical review and corrective measures.
- Reuse and Efficiency Integration
Extracted water shall be integrated, where feasible, into closed-loop reuse systems for irrigation, sanitation, and cooling.
Preference will be given to treated greywater or harvested rainwater over raw extraction from natural sources.
- Reporting and Transparency
The University will maintain an annual inventory of extraction points, volumes, and corresponding reuse data.
- Research and Capacity Building
The University encourages student and faculty research on aquifer management, water-efficient technologies, and extraction monitoring systems.
Collaborative projects with local authorities and the private sector will be promoted to advance sustainable water sourcing practices.
Governance
Responsible Authority: Rector
Operational Oversight: Technical Services Department
Scientific Advisors: Departments of Civil Engineering, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences
Review
This policy will be reviewed every three years, or earlier if legislative changes, hydrological assessments, or sustainability audits require it.
Through this framework, the University of Thessaly ensures that all water extraction on campus is measured, licensed, sustainable, and aligned with environmental stewardship principles.