Only 80 days of drinking water left in Bursa

Photo: AA

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While speaking at an event organized by the Bursa Technical University on March 22, 'World Water Day', Bursa's governor Yakup Canbolat stated that the water reserves of Turkey's fourth most populated city would last 80 days.

"85 percent of Bursa's water needs are provided by Nilüfer and Doğancı dams, and 15 percent by stationary water sources. We know that the annual water capacity of the Nilüfer Dam is 60 million cubic meters, that of Doğancı is 125 million cubic meters," Canbolat explains, adding that Bursa consumes daily 425 thousand cubic meters of water.

"Considering the occupancy rate in our drinking water dams and if there is no water inflow to the dams, Bursa has a water reserve to last only 80 days," he continues.

According to Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Alinur Aktaş, Bursa's precipitation decreased this year by 41 percent compared to the same period the previous year, emphasizing that every institution and organization should do their part in using water economically.

Water stress and scarcity

A persistent lack of precipitation has recently struck Turkey. Autumn 2022 was particularly dry, with figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry pointing out a drop in the cumulative average rainfall of 28.6 percent across the country between October 1 and December 1.

Apart from climate change, population growth, rapid urbanization, and construction in Turkey's wetlands, freshwater basins, and forests plunged the country into water stress. Despite being one of the more water-rich countries in the Mediterranean, a recent UN report shows.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Turkey's current amount of usable fresh water per capita is 1,566 cubic meters, below the water stress threshold of 1700 cubic meters. But above the 1000 cubic meters water scarcity line. (TY/WM)