The World is Boiling. Are Turkey's Water Resources Adequate?

Studies conducted by experts using various scenarios with models developed by experts reveal that climate change will generally result in an increase in the average temperature of the world and in the frequency, duration and severity of extreme meteorological events such as droughts, floods, storms and tornadoes. A rise in sea water level is also expected

Some experts define extreme meteorological events such as flash floods, floods and heat waves caused by changes in the precipitation regime as "climatic variability" in which climate change is in the background.

It is also argued that climate change may disrupt the ecological balance and create consequences that threaten water, energy, food and environmental security. For this reason, some countries recognise climate change as a national security threat.

For these reasons, it is also predicted that climate change will create negative economic, ecological, social and social consequences in regions where climate change will be experienced more intensely.

As a result, it is accepted that climate change will have many negative effects ranging from the decrease in agricultural production to the deterioration of human health and environmental disasters.

Turkey's Water Resources

In our country, water resources are unevenly distributed geographically and in terms of population distribution as in the world. While most of our population lives in the west of Samsun Adana line, a significant part of our water resources are in the east of this line. There is also an internal migration from east to west. The spatial average annual precipitation falling in our country is 574 mm. However, this value decreases to 300 mm in Central Anatolia and increases to 2500 mm in the Eastern Black Sea region. Therefore, our country differs regionally in terms of water potential and population distribution. Our population continues to increase and the amount of water per capita is rapidly approaching the critical threshold. In addition, in the western regions where the industry is more developed, our rivers are polluted to a great extent. In addition, especially in the water basins of the Mediterranean and South Aegean regions, climate change has started to adversely affect water resources. 

When all these conditions are taken into consideration, it is seen that Turkey is a country that is rapidly approaching water shortage at least regionally. If the necessary arrangements are not made in water management and utilisation and our understanding does not change, our water resources will be insufficient regionally and serious water budget deficit will occur in some of our basins in 2040. 

This situation was clearly stated by the former Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişçi in a meeting as follows. 

In a meeting on water efficiency mobilisation, Minister Kirişçi stated that 49 per cent of the total population and 78 per cent of irrigated agricultural areas will face the risk of water deficit in 2030 if necessary measures are not taken for the protection and efficient use of water resources, and that water deficit is expected to occur after 2030 even if necessary measures are taken in some basins. 

Status of our Water Policy and Practices 

Contrary to popular belief, water resources are not infinite resources. They are regionally finite resources and vary over time. Climate change has increased this effect. Water resources are spread unequally throughout the world. The world's water resources are under pressure from many factors such as rapid population growth, migration to cities, pollution and climate change. Many regions of the world are experiencing physical and economic water shortages. Approximately 1 billion people in the world do not have access to healthy water. Approximately 1 billion people live in unhealthy environmental conditions. We can say that these problems will increase in the future due to economic problems in these regions, rapid population growth and climate change. Turkey is not a water rich country. It is not a water poor country either. However, it is a country that frequently experiences regional droughts and is under the threat of water shortage. Therefore, it should use its water very efficiently, rationally and in a planned manner.

Turkey has been in a transition period for the last 10 years in terms of water policies. In this context, a national water report was prepared and put into effect in 2019. This report states that water will be managed with an integrated approach at the basin scale. In addition, many plans on water management have been finalised in 25 river basins in Turkey. For the implementation of these basin management plans, an effective institutional infrastructure at basin scale is needed. The Draft Water Law, which has been in preparation for 9 years, should be passed and enacted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in order to create a legal framework for this and to use water more efficiently.

Planning studies on water management in our country are almost completed. However, it is seen that there is still much work to be done to implement these plans with a participatory approach. 

In order to effectively implement the water policies specified in the national water plan in our country, it is necessary for water managers to change their understanding of water management and water users to change their water use habits. In other words, our country needs to change the paradigm of water management and water use in order to manage water well in terms of quantity and quality with the acceptance that water is a living right. We need a change of understanding in this regard. The pressures on our water resources are increasing. In particular, water should be managed well not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of quality. Because water pollution is increasing rapidly in our country.  

What should we do? 

Water is a natural resource that is of vital importance for all living things, whose demand is continuous and cannot be replaced by anything else. For this reason, it should always be continuously accessible in sufficient quality and in sufficient quantity for all living things. Climate change will have negative impacts on the water resources of our country except the Black Sea region. For this reason, we never have the luxury to consume the surface and groundwater of our country unconsciously. Every drop of water is very important for us and we have the obligation to use water in the most efficient way in every sector.

We also have to protect our water in terms of quality while using it efficiently in quantity.  

We have to change our water use habits and our understanding of water management regardless of the increase or decrease in the occupancy rates of our dams. In Turkey, all measures to be taken in times of both flood and drought are clearly included in the Flood Management and Drought Action Plans prepared at the basin scale. 

For the last few months, our country has been under the influence of sudden floods on the one hand and very hot weather conditions on the other. Protection and efficient use of our water resources in terms of quality should be a valid policy not only in dry periods but also in all periods. However, since water consumption will increase in very hot periods, measures should also be taken for saving in water use. Among these, measures such as replacing water-efficient apparatus with existing apparatus in domestic water use, full and efficient use of washing machines and dishwashers, reducing the capacity of old toilet cisterns with practical methods can be taken. In this period, the water use of sectors that consume excessive water, especially in metropolises such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, should be controlled more strictly.