Athens’ Kifisos River Choked by Industrial Waste: Four-Year Study Finds Systematic Pollution

A four-year research program that monitored the Kifisos river in Athens and its groundwater has uncovered significant industrial and urban pollution along the entire length of the river, with particular concentration in the open stretches of its bed. According to the study’s findings, reported by the Greek media, analyses carried out at regular intervals showed the persistent presence of industrial and urban pollutants in the Kifisos waters. Researchers stress that the pollution is not a thing of the past — it continues today.

The Kifisos is one of the main rivers crossing the Athens metropolitan area, and its condition is considered a direct indicator of the pressure that urbanization and industrial activity place on the environment. The open parts of the river, where discharges are most visible, proved the most affected. The research team called on the authorities for urgent protective measures and continuous monitoring, warning that without concrete intervention, the degradation of the river ecosystem will deepen further.

Source: Ekathimerini