Dams in Istanbul are sounding the alarm! Occupancy rate has fallen below critical levels

Dam occupancy rates in Istanbul, which exceeded 81 percent in April due to the effect of spring rains, have entered a downward trend again as summer heat makes itself felt. According to data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ), as of June 22, the occupancy rate of dams across the city has fallen below 70 percent, recorded at 69.41 percent.

On the same day, Istanbul's daily water consumption was calculated at 3 million 490 thousand cubic meters. The total amount of precipitation that fell on the dams this year was 324.23 kilograms per square meter.

The current occupancy rates of the dams in Istanbul are listed as follows:

• Elmalı Dam: %84.71
• Ömerli Dam: %77.95
• Darlık Dam: %74.30
• Terkos Dam: %72.34
• Pabuçdere Dam: %70.85
• Kazandere Dam: %70.30
• Büyükçekmece Dam: %63.61
• Sazlıdere Dam: %53.20
• Alibey Dam: %53.00
• Istrancalar Dam: %28.00

While the decline in some dams is noteworthy, the level in Istrancalar, in particular, is hovering at a critical threshold. On the other hand, the Elmalı and Ömerli dams provide relative security in terms of water supply with their comparatively high occupancy rates.

According to İSKİ statistics, the dam occupancy rates for June 21 have changed over the years as follows:

• 2015: %88.45
• 2016: %73.95
• 2017: %79.35
• 2018: %81.76
• 2019: %81.73
• 2020: %64.90
• 2021: %74.98
• 2022: %76.04
• 2023: %45.60
• 2024: %73.15
• 2025: %69.84