Water is a national security issue but not on the political agenda

Water is a Right

Water and healthy environment is the right of every living thing. Water is a natural resource that should be managed well with the understanding of public service.

Water is generally used very unconsciously. "We live in a period when water waste is on the agenda a lot. How should we use water? How can we minimise water waste?" I think that as a society, we must first reach the level of consciousness and understanding that can give the right answers to the questions.

In order to give the right answers to these questions, we must first review and change our water use habits. Water managers, on the other hand, have to revise their understanding of water management. In other words, we need a radical change of thinking on this issue. We must also rapidly organise our legal and institutional infrastructure. Politicians have to give up daily vicious political bickering on issues concerning our national security such as water and prioritise our social and national interests. Our Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Vahit Kirişçi, announced two days ago at a workshop organised by DSİ that water is a matter of national security. This approach is very correct, but problems related to water are still not sufficiently on the political agenda. We see that some steps have been taken to prevent water waste. While we are trying to rapidly eliminate institutional and legal deficiencies in order to prevent water waste, we also need to start a social mobilisation for water use awareness.

WE ARE NOT A WATER-RICH COUNTRY

Our country is located in a semi-arid climate zone and water resources are unevenly distributed. 

We are a country where there are significant variations in precipitation both in terms of location and seasons.  As in the recent period, we are experiencing regional dry periods in some regions such as Menderes, Gediz basin, Gaziantep, Urfa, South Marmara. In addition, the regions where our water resources are dense and the regions where our population is dense are different. We are not a "water rich" country in terms of water resources per capita. If we do not use water very carefully, we may become a country experiencing regional water problems in the near future.

Approximately 78 per cent of the total population resides within the borders of metropolitan municipalities. Drinking and utility water supply and environmental health services for this population are provided by the General Directorates of Water and Sewerage Administrations in metropolitan cities. These institutions try to provide these services in line with economic, ecological and social policy objectives, while maintaining a balance. However, they face great difficulties in this regard. In order to provide water services in a sustainable manner as a public service in our country, these institutions need to be supported in terms of institutional infrastructure, technological facilities and capabilities, and meritorious personnel. In this sense, water management needs to be restructured both at the river basin scale and at the scale of water and environmental health services of metropolitan municipalities.

OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BECOME A WATER POLICY INSTITUTE

Water Policy Association is a specialised organisation that carries out original studies in its field. As a centre of thought on water and related food, energy and environmental security, we carry out national and international studies. Our ultimate goal is to become a "Water Policy Institute". 

We have prepared many reports on the efficient use of water. We have given many conferences to raise awareness on the efficient use of water, especially at primary and high school level. We participate in conferences on this subject upon the invitation of many non-governmental organisations. We make statements in the written and visual media to increase social awareness. We take part and contribute as a partner in projects prepared by NGOs and universities on this subject. We participate in events such as workshops and "Water Council" organised by public institutions and organisations and convey our opinions and suggestions.

In short, we are trying to increase social awareness on water and water use and to contribute to the development of our level of consciousness and understanding. We have to make an effort for this together. We have to understand that this effort is the responsibility of all of us today for our future generations.