Ministry issues mucilage warning to 7 municipalities

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has sent a warning letter to the metropolitan municipalities of Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa, Balıkesir, and Tekirdağ, as well as the municipalities of Yalova and Çanakkale, which have coastlines on the Sea of Marmara, regarding key points highlighted by the Mucilage Science and Technical Board.

Recently, reports have begun to appear in the public domain regarding the formation of mucilage in the Sea of Marmara at depths ranging from 5 to 25 meters below the sea surface.

The Mucilage Science and Technical Board met in Ankara on December 25, 2024. During the meeting, the lack of advanced biological wastewater treatment plants—one of three critical items that have not been fulfilled—was emphasized.

It was noted that the conversion rate to advanced treatment has remained limited to 0.7 percent.

In line with the recommendations of the Mucilage Science and Technical Board to "complete the advanced wastewater treatment plants that municipalities have committed to building in order to reduce pollution input, and to tighten inspections," the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has sent a warning letter to the metropolitan municipalities of Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa, Balıkesir, and Tekirdağ, as well as the municipalities of Yalova and Çanakkale, urging them to fulfill their duties.

APPROACHING THE END OF THE DEFINED TIMEFRAME

The letter stated, "It is observed that a sufficient level has not been reached in the conversion of wastewater treatment plants in the basin to advanced treatment. Of the 169 facilities that submitted a work schedule, the planned work has been completed in only 42. Since the capacity of these facilities is low, there has been only a 0.7 percent increase in the proportion of the municipal population receiving advanced biological wastewater treatment services, which was 51 percent in 2021. In this regard, considering that the deadline defined in the legislation for the wastewater infrastructure investments that must be made by your administration is approaching, I request that you take the necessary actions to implement these projects as soon as possible to ensure that problems such as mucilage do not occur again in the Sea of Marmara."