Istanbul and Izmir are currently grappling with severe water scarcity. This crisis has been exacerbated by the dwindling water levels in the dams that provide water to these metropolitan areas, which is primarily due to the prolonged impact of a drought.
In Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, the water reservoirs have reached a critical low of 21%, a further drop from the levels observed just a week ago, according to data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI).
Similarly, the western Izmir province is facing a parallel situation as the water storage in all of its dams has declined as of October 20th. The Tahtalı Dam, which supplies approximately 40% of Izmir's water requirements, has reached its lowest level in 14 years.
The overall dam occupancy rate in Istanbul, which was 21.69% on October 15th, has now fallen to 21.01%, with at least four of the dams supplying the city at critically low levels. Some experts warn that falling below 10% can have adverse impacts on livelihoods and ecological systems, and dams such as Sazlıdere (6.14%), Kazandere (5.96%), Büyükçekmece (4.08%), and Pabuçdere (3.35%) are currently in this critical range.
Other dams, including Istrancalar, Terkos, and Elmalı, have occupancy rates of 10.46%, 10.35%, and 16.5%, respectively, while Alibey, Darlık, and Ömerli have the highest occupancy rates at 22.96%, 32.43%, and 44.88%, respectively.
The total storage capacity of dams and reservoirs supplying the city is 182 million cubic meters (mcm), out of a maximum capacity of 868.68 mcm. In addition to dam supplies, the city receives around 607 mcm of water from the Yeşilçay and Melen streams in 2023.
The ongoing water crisis, exacerbated by a lack of sufficient rainfall, has led to the lowest dam occupancy rates in the past nine years, according to ISKI statistics. In comparison, dam occupancy rates were significantly higher in previous years, such as 66.22% in 2015, 40.43% in 2016, 51.69% in 2017, 52.76% in 2018, 44.37% in 2019, 32.07% in 2020, 47.03% in 2021, and 43.48% in 2022.
In Izmir, data from the Izmir Water and Sewage Administration (IZSU) reveals that the occupancy rates in the city's five dams have declined compared to the previous year. For instance, Ürkmez Dam has seen a steep drop from 52% to 16%, Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş from 49% to 22%, and Tahtalı from 44% to 29%. Balçova and Güzelhisar dams have also experienced declines from 26% to 15% and 65% to 59%, respectively.
Serhat Ural, the head of the IZSU Water Treatment Department, attributes these declining levels to irregular global precipitation patterns, which have affected freshwater sources. He notes that the dry winter and hot summer have particularly impacted the water level in the Tahtalı Dam, which now stands at 29.84%. This is equivalent to only about eight to nine months' worth of water supply for Izmir, given that the dam covers approximately 40% of the city's water needs.
Ural encourages responsible water usage, even if the dams don't receive heavy rainfall, emphasizing that the region is at the beginning of a drought. He points out that they have maintained the dam's water level above 30% for the past 14 years by judiciously using both underground and surface water sources.
The effects of drought are not limited to Istanbul and Izmir, as other regions in Turkey, including the popular tourist destination Bodrum, are also grappling with severe water scarcity issues due to the closure of the main dams supplying the resort.
In response to the climate crisis, authorities have introduced various initiatives, including a "Drought Management Plan" for 23 basins across the country. These measures aim to raise public awareness about climate change's threats and promote sustainable and efficient water consumption practices.
In Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, the water reservoirs have reached a critical low of 21%, a further drop from the levels observed just a week ago, according to data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI).
Similarly, the western Izmir province is facing a parallel situation as the water storage in all of its dams has declined as of October 20th. The Tahtalı Dam, which supplies approximately 40% of Izmir's water requirements, has reached its lowest level in 14 years.
The overall dam occupancy rate in Istanbul, which was 21.69% on October 15th, has now fallen to 21.01%, with at least four of the dams supplying the city at critically low levels. Some experts warn that falling below 10% can have adverse impacts on livelihoods and ecological systems, and dams such as Sazlıdere (6.14%), Kazandere (5.96%), Büyükçekmece (4.08%), and Pabuçdere (3.35%) are currently in this critical range.
Other dams, including Istrancalar, Terkos, and Elmalı, have occupancy rates of 10.46%, 10.35%, and 16.5%, respectively, while Alibey, Darlık, and Ömerli have the highest occupancy rates at 22.96%, 32.43%, and 44.88%, respectively.
The total storage capacity of dams and reservoirs supplying the city is 182 million cubic meters (mcm), out of a maximum capacity of 868.68 mcm. In addition to dam supplies, the city receives around 607 mcm of water from the Yeşilçay and Melen streams in 2023.
The ongoing water crisis, exacerbated by a lack of sufficient rainfall, has led to the lowest dam occupancy rates in the past nine years, according to ISKI statistics. In comparison, dam occupancy rates were significantly higher in previous years, such as 66.22% in 2015, 40.43% in 2016, 51.69% in 2017, 52.76% in 2018, 44.37% in 2019, 32.07% in 2020, 47.03% in 2021, and 43.48% in 2022.
In Izmir, data from the Izmir Water and Sewage Administration (IZSU) reveals that the occupancy rates in the city's five dams have declined compared to the previous year. For instance, Ürkmez Dam has seen a steep drop from 52% to 16%, Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş from 49% to 22%, and Tahtalı from 44% to 29%. Balçova and Güzelhisar dams have also experienced declines from 26% to 15% and 65% to 59%, respectively.
Serhat Ural, the head of the IZSU Water Treatment Department, attributes these declining levels to irregular global precipitation patterns, which have affected freshwater sources. He notes that the dry winter and hot summer have particularly impacted the water level in the Tahtalı Dam, which now stands at 29.84%. This is equivalent to only about eight to nine months' worth of water supply for Izmir, given that the dam covers approximately 40% of the city's water needs.
Ural encourages responsible water usage, even if the dams don't receive heavy rainfall, emphasizing that the region is at the beginning of a drought. He points out that they have maintained the dam's water level above 30% for the past 14 years by judiciously using both underground and surface water sources.
The effects of drought are not limited to Istanbul and Izmir, as other regions in Turkey, including the popular tourist destination Bodrum, are also grappling with severe water scarcity issues due to the closure of the main dams supplying the resort.
In response to the climate crisis, authorities have introduced various initiatives, including a "Drought Management Plan" for 23 basins across the country. These measures aim to raise public awareness about climate change's threats and promote sustainable and efficient water consumption practices.