Water ranges within the dams of Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest metropolis, have dropped critically to twenty%, in response to latest knowledge launched by the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI).
The knowledge indicated that the general storage charge of Istanbul’s dams stood at a mere 20.36%, the bottom worth recorded within the final 10 years.
Comparatively, in the course of the 2014 drought, the water stage in dams was barely increased at 21.13%.
A very regarding side of the report revealed that the water stage in six dams in Istanbul dropped under the alarming 10% mark.
Water ranges in Papuçdere dam, some of the severely affected, and Büyükçekmece dam dropped to worrisome 3.51% and three.97%, respectively, highlighting the severity of the water scarcity disaster within the space.
Meanwhile, the water ranges in Kazandere Dam and Sazlıdere Dam stood at 6.32% and 5.54%, respectively.
In stark distinction, Ömerli Dam, which is being supplemented with extra water sources, emerged because the dam with the best water stage at 43.55%.
However, even this determine represents a major enhance in comparison with the 40.84% charge recorded precisely one 12 months in the past.
Following Ömerli Dam, Darlık Dam reported a charge of 31.62%. Alibeyköy dam stood at 22.2%, whereas Istrancalar dam at 21.86%.
Elmalı dam fared solely barely higher at 16.23%, and Terkos dam confirmed a worrying 9.77% charge.
Güven Özdemir, a lecturer and meteorological engineer at Istanbul Aydin University, instructed Anadolu Agency (AA) {that a} widespread drought is presently impacting varied areas all through the nation.
Özdemir identified that Istanbul skilled a major drought in 2007, leading to a drastic drop in reservoir ranges as town’s inhabitants continued to rise, subsequently resulting in elevated water consumption.
“Through the infusion of water from sources like Melen and Yeşilçay, Istanbul has been able to avert water scarcity so far. Presently, there are no water cuts, but if the situation persists, our reservoirs are slowly approaching critical levels. Most of our dams are operating well below their usual capacity,” he defined.
Özdemir emphasised that the declining reservoir ranges not solely jeopardize water availability but additionally have an effect on water high quality. As the water depth diminishes, it turns into a breeding floor for microorganisms and micro organism, leading to a deterioration of water high quality.
Highlighting the numerous impression of world local weather change on reducing precipitation, Özdemir pressured the necessity to scale back using fossil fuels in main city facilities in favor of renewable power sources.
Furthermore, Özdemir underscored the urgency of modernizing irrigation techniques and emphasised the need for water conservation efforts. “We are heading toward a severe water scarcity crisis. It’s imperative for our country to take proactive measures, considering our location in the Mediterranean macroclimate and subtropical climate. While subtropical, we are gradually moving toward a tropical climate, and this shift signifies a looming drought, one of the most devastating natural disasters,” he said.
Source: www.dailysabah.com