A Decision Analysis Approach To A Coastal Pollution Problem: The Sewage System Of The City Of Thessaloniki (Greece)

Coastal areas (shorelines and waters) are valuable nature resources, but due to their economic importance, are used intensively by mankind (recreation, tourism, aqua-culture, fishing etc.). These uses create pollution problems and the subsequent deterioration of the aquatic ecosystem. The pollution problems are created from the discharge of domestic and industrial waste waters, the drainage waters from agricultural areas, the oil-spills and the construction of coastal works. A methodology towards the management of coastal water quality may be based on the decision analysis approach. This work describes the application of such a methodology to the pollution problem of Thermaikos Bay.