Infrastructure Inadequate, Legislation Vague. City Floods on the Rise.
Seasonal shifts in precipitation are observed. Experts state that these unusual meteorological conditions will continue to increase. In recent days, Ankara, as well as other provinces, has experienced short-term and very heavy rainfall. Urgent measures need to be taken to prevent these rains from causing urban floods that cause loss of life and property as in the past.
Unusual meteorological conditions create sudden, short-term and heavy rainfall. The intensity and frequency of these rains are increasing. Seasonal shifts in precipitation are observed. Experts state that these unusual meteorological conditions will continue to increase. In recent days, Ankara, among other provinces, has experienced short-term and very heavy rainfall. Urgent measures need to be taken to prevent these rains from causing city floods that cause loss of life and property as before.
City Floods Will Increase
Urban floods will continue to be a problem in many settlements of our country due to climate change, unplanned construction, concretization, lack of separate storm water lines, faulty drainage structure designs and failure to re-do urban hydrology calculations.
Sustainable management of the risk of urban flooding is becoming increasingly difficult. We need to make our cities more resilient to both drought and urban floods caused by climate change impacts. In addition, urban hydrology calculations should be redone taking into account the new changing conditions and wastewater and stormwater removal infrastructure in some risky areas should be renewed. In addition, uncertainties in local legislation on the construction and operation of discrete stormwater lines should be resolved quickly.
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City Floods in Ankara
In Ankara, there are both city floods and flood risks of streams and streams flowing through Ankara. There have been many floods in Ankara to date, resulting in loss of life and property. The floods that have occurred in the center of Ankara in recent years are mostly caused by incorrect infrastructure applications (backflow of the sewage system, etc.), surface floods caused by dense construction (in heavy and short-term downpours, water cannot drain into the soil and flows rapidly, etc.). Buildings below the flood level face the danger of flooding even in non-extreme rainfall. This situation reveals the necessity of improving the infrastructure and drainage systems and constructing separate stormwater lines.
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Streams passing through Ankara city center
Ankara has 8271 km of wastewater and 2875 km of stormwater collection system. In recent years, the construction of discrete transmission systems collecting rainwater has increased in districts such as Çankaya, Yenimahalle, Mamak and Altındağ, and drainage measures have been taken at some points where rainwater accumulates after heavy rains. However, water engineering measures such as increasing channel capacity and enlarging pipe diameters may not be sufficient to increase resilience against urban floods. Nature-based ecological solutions and issues such as raising social awareness, emergency rescue training and awareness raising should also be considered in urban flood management. It is also important to prepare urban flood hazard and risk maps and to raise awareness of those living in these areas about the emergency measures to be taken against floods.
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Flood and flood management plans for Ankara are ready. Awaiting Implementation!
In order to identify the floods that may occur in Ankara and to determine the measures to be taken, the 5th Regional Directorate of DSİ prepared the Ankara Province Flood Hazard Areas Planning Report in 2016 and the Sakarya Basin Flood Management Plan, which includes the Ankara Provincial Center, was prepared by the General Directorate of Water Management in 2018. In these plans, the river beds passing through the settlements and the floods that may occur as a result of the overflow of these beds were discussed. The measures to be taken against these were examined and the measures to be taken were listed. In addition, in the Ankara Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plan published in 2021, the places that may be exposed to flooding and urban flooding in Ankara and the measures to be taken are given in detail. Among these measures; there are measures such as cleaning stream beds, laying rainwater lines, increasing the capacity of some art structures such as canals and culverts, making stream rehabilitation, building drainage channels, and establishing flood early warning systems. These measures should be taken by organizations such as ASKİ and DSİ Regional Directorate.
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Tens of thousands could be affected if no action is taken
There are many streams and creeks passing through Ankara city center. Measures such as widening the sections of many bridges and culverts on Çubuk Stream, Hatip Stream, İncesu Stream, Ankara Stream, and opening closed sections need to be taken. In the Ankara Province Flood Hazard Areas Planning Report prepared by the 5th Regional Directorate of DSİ in 2016, the flood flows and damages caused by the streams in Ankara city center were also calculated.
According to this report;
It is expected that 148.083 people will be affected in a 50-year recurrence flood event, 164.596 people will be affected in a 100-year recurrence flood event, and approximately 238.148 people will be affected in a 500-year recurrence flood event.
According to the report; for a flood with a recurrence period of 500 years, approximately 24% of the buildings in Ankara Provincial Center are under flood risk. In the report, it is stated that in case of such a flood, 72% of the damage will occur in residences and 28% will occur in commercial areas, food and beverage facilities, financial institutions, educational institutions, health institutions and other areas respectively.
Precautions were given in the Reports. Now they need to be implemented.
In recent years, unusual meteorological weather events such as sudden and heavy rains have been increasing in our country. These can cause city floods and overflows that can cause great damage. For this reason, measures such as early warning systems, informing and educating the public, renewing the infrastructure and increasing the existing capacity, cleaning the canals should be taken as soon as possible. These measures are detailed in basin or sub-basin flood management plans and provincial disaster risk reduction plans, which cover almost all of our cities. What needs to be done and expected now is for the relevant institutions to take these measures rapidly and in coordination.
City Floods in Ankara
In Ankara, there are both city floods and flood risks of streams and streams flowing through Ankara. There have been many floods in Ankara to date, resulting in loss of life and property. The floods that have occurred in the center of Ankara in recent years are mostly caused by incorrect infrastructure applications (backflow of the sewage system, etc.), surface floods caused by dense construction (in heavy and short-term downpours, water cannot drain into the soil and flows rapidly, etc.). Buildings below the flood level face the danger of flooding even in non-extreme rainfall. This situation reveals the necessity of improving the infrastructure and drainage systems and constructing separate stormwater lines.
Streams passing through Ankara city center
Ankara has 8271 km of wastewater and 2875 km of stormwater collection system. In recent years, the construction of discrete transmission systems collecting rainwater has increased in districts such as Çankaya, Yenimahalle, Mamak and Altındağ, and drainage measures have been taken at some points where rainwater accumulates after heavy rains. However, water engineering measures such as increasing channel capacity and enlarging pipe diameters may not be sufficient to increase resilience against urban floods. Nature-based ecological solutions and issues such as raising social awareness, emergency rescue training and awareness raising should also be considered in urban flood management. It is also important to prepare urban flood hazard and risk maps and to raise awareness of those living in these areas about the emergency measures to be taken against floods.
Flood and flood management plans for Ankara are ready. Awaiting Implementation!
In order to identify the floods that may occur in Ankara and to determine the measures to be taken, the 5th Regional Directorate of DSİ prepared the Ankara Province Flood Hazard Areas Planning Report in 2016 and the Sakarya Basin Flood Management Plan, which includes the Ankara Provincial Center, was prepared by the General Directorate of Water Management in 2018. In these plans, the river beds passing through the settlements and the floods that may occur as a result of the overflow of these beds were discussed. The measures to be taken against these were examined and the measures to be taken were listed. In addition, in the Ankara Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plan published in 2021, the places that may be exposed to flooding and urban flooding in Ankara and the measures to be taken are given in detail. Among these measures; there are measures such as cleaning stream beds, laying rainwater lines, increasing the capacity of some art structures such as canals and culverts, making stream rehabilitation, building drainage channels, and establishing flood early warning systems. These measures need to be taken by organizations such as ASKİ and DSİ Regional Directorate.
Tens of thousands could be affected if no action is taken
There are many streams and creeks passing through Ankara city center. Measures such as widening the sections of many bridges and culverts on Çubuk Stream, Hatip Stream, İncesu Stream, Ankara Stream, and opening closed sections need to be taken. In the Ankara Province Flood Hazard Areas Planning Report prepared by the 5th Regional Directorate of DSİ in 2016, the flood flows and damages caused by the streams in Ankara city center were also calculated.
According to this report;
148.083 people are expected to be affected in a 50-year recurrence flood event, 164.596 people in a 100-year recurrence flood event, and 238.148 people in a 500-year recurrence flood event in Ankara City Center.
According to the report; for a flood with a recurrence period of 500 years, approximately 24% of the buildings in Ankara Provincial Center are under flood risk. In the report, it is stated that in case of such a flood, 72% of the damage will occur in residences and 28% will occur in commercial areas, food and beverage facilities, financial institutions, educational institutions, health institutions and other areas respectively.
Precautions were given in the Reports. Now they need to be implemented.
In recent years, unusual meteorological weather events such as sudden and heavy rains have been increasing in our country. These can cause city floods and overflows that can cause great damage. For this reason, measures such as early warning systems, informing and educating the public, renewing the infrastructure and increasing the existing capacity, cleaning the canals should be taken as soon as possible. These measures are detailed in basin or sub-basin flood management plans and provincial disaster risk reduction plans, which cover almost all of our cities. What needs to be done and expected now is for the relevant institutions to take these measures rapidly and in coordination.
