Critical 'water consumption' warning from İSKİ General Manager

Precipitation levels have remained below seasonal norms. The decline in occupancy rates at some dams due to the lack of rainfall has brought the risk of water shortages back to the agenda. 

Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) General Manager Şafak Başa issued warnings against the risk of drought. Stating that the occupancy rate in Istanbul's dams is in a better condition compared to last year, Başa warned citizens regarding 'individual water consumption'. 

"We are acting very cautiously. We are using water very carefully. We are trying to keep the occupancy rate in our dams at a good level, especially by taking water from non-dam sources. Our citizens should not be anxious. İSKİ is managing this in the best possible way," said Şafak Başa, who warned citizens with the following words: 

'WATER CONSUMPTION IS VERY HIGH IN ISTANBUL'

"Let us not abandon conservation. Let us use water more carefully. Because per capita water consumption in Istanbul is very high. Developed countries have brought this down significantly. We are also absolutely obligated to reduce our individual water consumption for our future. Every day, we transfer water from the Melen River through our transmission lines and the pumping stations we have established there. We bring nearly half of Istanbul's water—and in some periods more than half—from the Melen basin, treat it in Istanbul, and provide it to our citizens. The problem with Melen is that the Melen Dam has not been completed. We are talking about a dam that has the potential to hold almost a year's worth of water for Istanbul. It is a dam with a capacity to hold over 1 billion (cubic meters) of water. Unfortunately, this dam could not be finished. As you know, it is being built by our General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ). Under normal conditions, it should have been completed and handed over to İSKİ. However, due to some cracks in the dam, it could not be completed."