Rainwater to be harvested in İzmir

An important milestone has been reached within the framework of the Sponge City İzmir project, which was implemented in line with the vision of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer that “Another Water Management is Possible.”

The distribution of 5,000 free rainwater tanks to 5,000 buildings has begun as part of the effort aimed at sustainable rainwater management.

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer stated, “We have started our tank distribution as part of our Sponge City project, where we store rainwater and bring it back into the natural water cycle. We must capture every single drop of rain where it falls and prevent it from flowing away. I thank everyone who is a stakeholder in our project to combat drought.”

70 PERCENT REDUCTION TARGETED

With the Sponge City İzmir project, an incentive system for rainwater harvesting is being applied, and the campaign for 10,000 rain gardens in İzmir continues alongside the distribution of 5,000 rainwater tanks to 5,000 buildings.

The project plans to build İzmir as a sponge city within 5 years and reduce urban rainwater runoff by 70 percent within five years.

The most important feature of the project, which is based on Turkey's most detailed rainwater harvesting and water-focused green transformations, is that it is open to the participation of all citizens living in the city.

With the steps taken to ensure that not a single drop of rain is wasted, the goal is to create a city that is inspired by nature and fights against the climate crisis and water scarcity.

APPLICATIONS COMING SOON

The rural leg of the Sponge City İzmir project, the “Küçük Menderes Plain Rainwater Harvesting” study, is also ongoing. With the project, rainwater harvesting has begun in the Küçük Menderes Basin by establishing recharge wells, infiltration cisterns, and ponds.

In this context, the construction of 1 infiltration pond in the Ödemiş district and 2 infiltration tunnels in Bayındır is ongoing. Additionally, applications for 2,000 filter tanks planned to be distributed across the plain will begin soon.

The aim of rainwater harvesting is to store the rain falling on the plain underground before it evaporates. The project aims to achieve significant rises in groundwater levels. Thus, the energy costs of farmers and producers will decrease, and millions of liras will be saved.

RAINWATER HARVESTING BEING DONE IN CEMETERY AREA

Awareness projects are also being implemented in various locations to increase awareness and consciousness regarding rainwater harvesting across the city.

In this context, the construction of applications for harvesting rainwater falling on the roofs of a total of 12 stops at the Halkapınar, Bornova, and Evka-3 Metro stations for use in green areas has begun.

Furthermore, with the revision made to the existing drainage system at the Işıkkent Cemetery, rainwater harvesting is being carried out in a cemetery area for the first time in Turkey. With the project, rainwater transferred from the drainage system to a tank can be used for washing and irrigation work in the cemetery via a separate line.

FLOODING WILL BE PREVENTED

On the other hand, pilot application projects prepared for various urban areas with the aim of preventing flooding using green infrastructure techniques are also being implemented rapidly.

In this context, the pilot projects of Gaziemir-İzelman Green Parking Lot, Buca Rain Trenches, Buca Flood Park, Bornova Metro Green Median, and Bayraklı Rain Park have reached the implementation stage and will move to the construction phase shortly.