Ministerial Joint Decree No. 39626/2208/Ε130 laying down measures for the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration, in compliance with EU Directive 2006/118/EC.

The Decree aims to prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater. With this purpose it aims at implementing the provisions of articles 9 and 10 of Law No. 1650/1986 as well as the provisions contained in article 4, 12, and 14 of Presidential Decree No. 51/2007, in compliance with EU Directive 2006/118/EC, in order to prevent and control groundwater pollution. The Decree establishes specific measures, in particular: (a) criteria for the assessment of good groundwater chemical status; and (b) criteria for the identification and reversal of significant and sustained upward trends and for the definition of starting points for trend reversals. This Decree also complements the provisions preventing or limiting inputs of pollutants into groundwater already contained in Law No. 3199/2003 and Presidential Decree No. 51/2007 which have been issued to align the Greek legislative framework with EU Directive 2000/60/EC. The decree is composed of eight articles as follows: art.1, Purpose; art. 2, Definitions; art. 3, Criteria for assessing groundwater chemical status; art. 4, Procedure for assessing groundwater chemical status; art. 5, Identification of significant and sustained upward trends and the definition of starting points for trend reversals; art. 6, Measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater; art. 7, Transitional arrangements; art. 8, Annexes.