Istanbul’s water reservoirs running low despite COVID-19 pause in production

Duvar English

Istanbul’s water reserves are only 65 percent full, the second most empty they have been in the past decade, despite a pause in industrial production due to the coronavirus. 

“The average amount of water given to Istanbul in March was 2,731,147 cubic meters. This number is the same today, when all production has stopped. If we continue to use so much water, we may have difficulty in the summer,” Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Meteorology Engineering lecturer Deniz Demirhan noted. 

While water levels usually surge to around 95 percent at the end of April, increased water usage by Istanbulites self-isolating and a lack of heavy rainfall has allowed this number to drop to 65 percent in 2020, the lowest since March 2014, when water levels hit just 35.5 percent. 

Demirhan noted that rainfall in February was six percent below average for the Marmara region. 

“We’re seeing changes in peaks as well as averages. Temperatures are rising, precipitation is declining, but extreme rainfall is also occurring more often,” Demirhan said.

Turkey has also been experiencing sudden hailstorms, avalanches and tornados while receiving less snowfall, Demirhan added, noting that spring is no exception to these extremes. 

“Rainfall is less than the seasonal average, temperatures are high. We might experience droughts in the coming days.”

Istanbul has experienced flooding due to flash rainstorms in recent years, but this rainfall doesn’t feed underground water sources, Demirhan added. 

Istanbul needs to plant more trees and recycle more to avoid future droughts, Demirhan said.

“Afterwards, we need to take serious precautions about water and minimize the use of clean water in industrial activities and agriculture.”

Istanbul’s reservoirs can hold a total of 868,683,000 cubic meters of water. Istanbul receives water from Melen and Yeşilçay rivers, with about 35% of its total use coming from those sources.