Water supply, especially in urban areas, is one of the most important issues all over the world. Tritium (3H or T) as a natural radioactive isotope of hydrogen with a half-life (T1/2) of 12.26 years has been accepted as an efficient tool in groundwater hydrology. By using an appropriate model, relevant hydro meteorological and isotope data, a computer program which implements an adequate recursive equation, the volume of the reservoir under the Galicica Mountain that recharges the St. Naum Spring as well as the Mean Residence Time (MRT) of the ground water has been determined and the respective values are V=3.7 x 10 9 m 3 and MRT= 6 years.
On the borders between FYR of Macedonia, Albania and Greece there are three lakes: Ohrid Lake, and Big and Small Prespa Lakes. Galichica and Dry mountains separate the lakes. Several Projects (Supported by IAEA, NATO, EU, UNESCO and others) have been dealing with the determination of the water balance and the protection of Prespa and Ohrid Lakes with special attention to the explanation of the decreasing of the Prespa Lake water level, in excess of 8m in the last decades. Investigations using Environmental isotopes and artificial tracers showed that Prespa Lake's waters drain through the Galichica and Dry mountains into Ohrid Lake. By using an appropriate model, relevant hydrogeological, hydro meteorological data, satellite images and a computer program which implements an adequate recursive and exponential equations, the volume of the underground aquifer below Galichica Mountain and the volume of the Prespa Lake have been calculated.
The Prespa Lake is on the border between Greece, Albania and Republic of Macedonia. The importance of Prespa Lake has been widely recognised by national and international bodies in the three neighbouring countries not only because of its natural beauty, but also because of its high biodiversity, including populations of rare water birds, like for example the Dalmatian pelican, as well as for its cultural values including Byzantine monuments. In recent years a decrease in water in the lake has been recorded. Though there have been several studies investigating the water level decrease, it has been impossible so far to conclude on the reasons behind this phenomenon. A research project has started recently supported by the NATO SfP programme which has as one of the main objectives to look into the cause behind the water level decrease, and also to suggest strategies for the water usage of the lake's watershed.
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