Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerNew measures were taken against the climate crisis and drought with the zoning regulation, which was rearranged within the framework of the vision of creating resilient cities. In İzmir, rainwater harvesting on large parcels over a thousand square meters and green roofs on buildings over 60 thousand square meters has been made mandatory. The new regulation prepared in 2019 was approved by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and entered into force in June.
Continuing its efforts to use declining water resources more efficiently and to combat drought, the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, with the amendment it made in the zoning regulation, made rainwater harvesting mandatory for newly constructed buildings over a thousand square meters and green roofs for buildings over 60 thousand square meters. The new zoning regulation prepared in 2019 was approved by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and entered into force in June.
We secure our future
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor stated that they organized a "Sustainable Water Policies in Cities Summit" in Izmir on 22 March World Water Day by saying "Another water management is possible" in the fight against drought and that as 22 mayors, they signed the manifesto in which a new water policy was drawn in the cities. Tunç Soyer“Taking into account the aggravating consequences of the climate crisis, we propose another water policy for Turkey and work to secure our future in these lands for our children and nature. The regulations we make with the understanding of sustainable environment in our zoning regulation serve exactly this purpose. We carry out many studies that focus on the efficient use of our water resources, double the amount of green space per capita in the city, reducing energy consumption and focusing on renewable energy sources. These definitions we put in our zoning regulations, such as green roof and rainwater harvesting, will contribute significantly to our struggle to protect nature and water resources, and to our goal of becoming a circular and resilient city.
Roof and ground waters will be evaluated
With this arrangement, a drainage system will be created to be used in works such as garden irrigation and car washing in parcels over a thousand square meters, in new buildings such as shopping malls and public buildings. Roof and ground surface waters will be collected in a cistern or rainwater tank to be installed under the ground, and will be purified and reused if necessary. The drainage system, cistern or rainwater tank can be arranged on the back of the building, within the distances of the side and backyard, and will be shown on the site plan. Rainwater pipes that collect roof water will be connected to cisterns or stormwater tanks or to the stormwater network on the road. If it is determined that it is connected to the waste water network, necessary actions will be taken by the General Directorate of İZSU.
The ministry also announced
According to the Planned Areas Zoning Regulation published in the Official Gazette on January 23, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, in order to collect the rain water collected on the roofs of all buildings to be built on parcels larger than 2 thousand square meters, in a warehouse under the garden floor to be used for garden irrigation or purified building needs. rainwater collection system” was made mandatory. The regulation, which was prepared by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in 2019 and obliges rainwater harvesting in buildings over one thousand square meters, was approved by the ministry and entered into force on June 3, 2021.
Green roofs are coming
With the zoning regulation reorganized with a sustainable environmental understanding, in new buildings to be constructed larger than 60 thousand square meters, to improve the ecology of the city, to break the effect of climatic air conditioning, to reduce sudden floods by holding rain water, to prevent the destruction of green areas of constructions, to create a natural environment that can breathe, and to heat and noise on roofs. The application of green roof systems has become mandatory in order to ensure insulation. According to the regulation, in buildings with a total construction area of more than 30 thousand square meters; If a terrace roof is desired, the application of green roof systems will be mandatory.
Air pollution will be prevented
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which works with the aim of reducing carbon emissions in the city for a sustainable environment, has taken an exemplary decision to prevent air pollution. Accordingly, if there is a geothermal or natural gas infrastructure in the new buildings, it has become mandatory to install a geothermal or natural gas heating system.
The number of trees in the city will increase
Focusing on green infrastructure works for a "greener Izmir", Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has made another important decision to increase the green texture of the city in the new zoning regulation. In the Planned Areas Zoning Regulation of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, the obligation to plant trees in every 30 square meters of the area outside the area where housing, housing and trade, tourism, education, worship, health and sports facilities sit on the ground of the building has been reduced to 15 square meters in İzmir. Thus, the number of afforestation has doubled. If the building location is not suitable for tree planting, trees are planted in areas deemed appropriate by the municipalities.
What is rainwater harvesting?
Rainwater harvesting, which dates back to Roman roofing systems, is the in situ accumulation and storage of rainwater for reuse. The rain water collected on the roofs and terraces of the buildings and on the balconies is stored in the water tanks or cisterns under the building. After the storage stage, the rain water is pressurized with a hydrophore and transmitted to the usage points with the help of an external water system. This water is used for garden irrigation, car wash, domestic use and indoor heating. It can also be used for other purposes such as drinking water, long-term storage and groundwater enrichment. The cisterns used in the Ottoman Period are one of the best examples of rainwater harvesting.
What is a green roof?
A green roof is a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system placed on top of a flat or gently pitched roof. Green roofs improve the energy performance, air quality and urban ecology of the building without additional equipment, and produce innovative solutions to the problems created by rain water. Green roofs are important systems in sustainable buildings with these features.
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