While Istanbul is heading towards a water crisis, a record was broken in water consumption in Istanbul this year. What to do?
After the last few rainy weeks, the water security risk posed by the 2-year dry spell in Istanbul has been almost forgotten.
As it is known, the meteorological drought that has been going on for the last 2 years has reduced the water volume in the dams, especially on the European side of Istanbul, to almost unbearable levels last year. The average occupancy rate in all dams in Istanbul dropped to 16% in mid-November, and with subsequent rainfall, these volumes in the dams began to increase.
These rains have brought great relief to the Istanbul water management, especially to those living on the European side of Istanbul. This situation has led to a perception that the water problem has been solved for Istanbul, as is the general understanding in our country. After the last few rainy weeks, the water security risk posed by the 2-year dry period in Istanbul was almost forgotten, and this period was not analyzed and shared with water users.
No statement has been made by the relevant institutions and organizations about the reasons that increase the risk of water security in this dry period, the cost of the dry period, the experiences gained from this period and the measures to be taken. The agenda for more efficient use of water seems to have been postponed until the next dry season.
Water is not managed solely based on rainfall.
When Istanbul's water problem is addressed with an approach based solely on the decrease in rainfall, it becomes difficult to achieve sustainable water management. No progress can be made in identifying and resolving structural and managerial deficiencies in Istanbul's water management.
As the Water Policy Association, the essence of our approach, which is stated in many of our statements as "Water Management is not just flowing water from fountains", is to emphasize that water is not just about quantity management. Water needs to be managed with a participatory approach, ensuring a balance between economic, ecological and social goals. It is known that this cannot be achieved most of the time. Our current understanding of water management and the obstacles to the implementation of medium and long-term plans direct or even force water management towards daily and seasonal, populist and practical solutions.
This compulsion also prevents us from learning enough from the increased water security risks during dry periods. If we evaluate this issue based on the risk experienced in Istanbul last year, the following issues emerge.
How much water was given to Istanbul in 2023?
According to the data of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKİ); İSKİ served 6 million 891 thousand 231 subscribers in 2023. Last year, a total of 1 billion 117 million 64 thousand 116 cubic meters of water was supplied in Istanbul, including 737 million 938 thousand 674 cubic meters on the European Side and 379 million 125 thousand 442 cubic meters on the Anatolian Side.
This figure was the highest amount of water consumed on a yearly basis of all time.
The share of the European Side in the water usage rate was 66.06 percent, and the share of the Anatolian Side was 33.94 percent. During the year, 440 million 532 thousand 935 cubic meters of water were transferred from the Anatolian Side to the European Side.
841 million 959 thousand 955 cubic meters of the water used in Istanbul in 2023 was supplied from Melen and Yeşilçay regulators, and 275 million 104 thousand 161 cubic meters was supplied from dams.
What the drought in 2023 shows
When the dry period, which will reduce the average occupancy level of Istanbul dams to 18% in 2023, is examined in terms of water management, the amount of water used and the behavior of water users, very striking results emerge.
1. 66% of the water supplied to Istanbul in 2023 was supplied to the European side and 34% was supplied to the Anatolian side.
2. 60% of the water supplied to the European side was supplied from the Melen and Yeşilçay systems on the Anatolian Side.
3. Warnings to use water more economically due to drought did not work, and a water consumption record was broken in Istanbul.
These findings highlight the following issues.
• Two-thirds of Istanbul's water demand occurs on the European side. The population growth trend in this region will further pressure water supply.
• 60% of the water demand of this region was supplied from Melen and Yeşilçay systems. Since this water was supplied from a distance of 180 km with 300 m pumping, it created a great cost and disrupted the budget balances of İSKİ.
• In order to meet the increasing water demand on the European side more economically, there is a need to increase the capacity of the Cumhuriyet Treatment Plant as well as the Melen Dam.
• As in the previous drought in 2007, warnings to use water more economically due to drought in 2023 did not help, and a water consumption record was broken in Istanbul in 2023. This situation clearly shows that water users in Istanbul have not changed their water usage habits and that a very classical supply management model is applied in water management.
• The unit cost of water supplied to Istanbul is much higher than the water price paid by subscribers. The water used in Istanbul, most of which is transported from Anatolia. This situation necessitates increased inspections and management of demand in order to use water more efficiently, especially on the European side.
