Three out of ten dams in Istanbul are in alarm.
Drought in Istanbul Causes Water Levels in Dams to Drop
Due to a significant decrease in rainfall this year, Istanbul is experiencing one of the worst droughts in recent years. As a result, the water levels in three out of the ten dams in the city have dropped to alarming levels. Büyükçekmece Lake, Sazlıdere Dam, and Pabuçdere Dam have been particularly affected, with water levels at 3.97%, 2.77%, and 3.45%, respectively.
Büyükçekmece Lake, an important water resource for the city, has seen a drastic decline in water occupancy. Last year, the lake’s water occupancy was 46.64% during the same period, but it has dropped to a record-low level of 3.97% this year. The receding water has exposed previously filled areas of the lake, and the soil has dried and cracked due to the prolonged drought.
Among the dams providing water to the city, Sazlıdere Dam has the lowest water occupancy level. Last year, the dam’s water occupancy was 44.02% on November 5, but it has significantly decreased to 2.77% this year. Pabuçdere Dam is also on the verge of drying up, with its water occupancy rate at 3.45% today compared to 3.42% last year. Kazandere Dam’s occupancy rate dropped from 27.01% to 7.3% during the same period.
Other dams in Istanbul, such as Terkos Dam and Elmalı Dam, have also experienced a significant decrease in water occupancy. Terkos Dam’s occupancy rate is now at 7.95%, compared to 43.34% last year. Similarly, Elmalı Dam’s occupancy rate dropped to 16.04%, the lowest level in the last 6 years.
Alibey Dam is facing its lowest water occupancy level in the last 10 years, with a drop from 22.9% to 17.71% compared to the same period last year. Darlık Dam’s occupancy rate is now at 28.83%, down from 41.72% last year. Ömerli Dam’s occupancy rate is 38.12%, the lowest level in the past 9 years.
With water levels falling below 20% in 7 out of the 10 dams that provide water to the city, the overall water occupancy is only 17.59%.
Experts warn that the water levels in the dams have reached critical levels. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Toros from Istanbul Technical University’s Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Department of Meteorological Engineering, stated that the decrease in rainfall has caused the rapid decline in water occupancy. He emphasized the importance of taking immediate precautions to conserve water and urged residents to save at least one-third of their water usage. Prof. Dr. Toros stated that if the people of Istanbul can reduce their water usage, the city will not run out of water until new rains come. He also highlighted the need to reduce water usage in sinks, showers, and flushing to combat the water shortage crisis.
The situation calls for immediate attention from both residents and the government. It is crucial to implement sustainable water-saving measures and educate the public about the importance of water conservation. Only by working together can Istanbul overcome this severe water crisis.
