Rauf Mermutlu, General Manager of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ), announced that the operating expenses of the institution have increased by 203 percent due to the increasing costs recently. Mermutlu reported that İSKİ runs a 500 million lira deficit every month. Stating that diesel prices increased by 241 percent and electricity by 239 percent in a year, Mermutlu emphasized that water prices did not change in the same period.
İSKİ General Manager Rauf Mermutlu met with members of the press on the subject of 'Sustainable Water Management'. Explaining the input costs that have risen in the last period one by one, Rauf Mermutlu emphasized that the İSKİ budget gives a deficit of 500 million TL every month. Emphasizing that this situation will lead to difficult situations in the future, Mermutlu said, "We want Istanbulites to know that this business is not sustainable if we continue to sell water at these prices." Mermutlu announced that the İSKİ budget, which was approved as 10 billion 364 million liras with all its expenses, exceeded 15 billion liras due to the recent increases in costs. Stating that there are many cost expenses such as electricity, fuel, concrete, personnel wages for the delivery of drinking water to the citizens, Mermutlu emphasized that these cost increases have reached unaffordable levels.
Electricity expenses, which İSKİ calculated as 2022 billion 1 million TL for 300, increased to 3 billion TL. In the same period, 2 billion 50 million lira personnel expenditure increased to 2 billion 350 million lira; drinking water and wastewater investments from 5 billion liras to 6,7 billion liras; Chemical expense calculated as 180 million liras to 570 million liras; Natural gas-fuel expenses, which were calculated as 170 million liras, reached 540 million liras.
“WE CONTINUE WITH THE SAME PRICES SINCE 2019”
İSKİ General Manager Rauf Mermutlu reminded that the proposal for a raise was rejected in the İBB Assembly last month, and stated that İSKİ ranks 30rd among 23 metropolitan cities regarding water prices. Mermutlu gave the following information about water prices: “Today, 86 percent of Istanbul residents use water from the first level, 0-15 cubic meters. The unit price of this water is 5 lira and 56 kuruş. With the money of one cubic meter of water we give at this price, we are making both our drinking water and wastewater investments and our operation at the same time. We cover our electricity expenses. In addition to meeting our personnel expenses and chemical costs, we also collect the waste water from the houses with this 5 lira 56 kuruş and dispose of it without harming the environment. With this price, Istanbul is in the 30rd place among the water tariffs applied by the 23 Metropolitan Municipality.”
Saying that there has been no significant increase in water prices since the last 3 years, Rauf Mermutlu stated that they are trying to continue operations and investments with the prices at the beginning of 2019. Emphasizing that these prices are not sustainable, Mermutlu invited the İSKİ General Assembly to an extraordinary meeting.
TOTAL INVESTMENT OF 4,5 BILLION TL
Explaining that the works have been completed in 104 of the 83 points with flood risk, İSKİ General Manager Mermutlu stated that the works continue at the remaining 21 points. Stating that they have built approximately 100 kilometers of wastewater and storm water lines of various diameters and 600 kilometers of drinking water lines, Mermutlu noted that all these investments have reached 4,5 billion liras in total.
INVESTMENTS WILL BE DELAYED IF NO RISE IS MADE
At the meeting, the press said, "If there is no increase in the rate you want, will the water of the people of Istanbul be cut off?" Responding to the question, İSKİ General Manager Rauf Mermutlu said, “Of course, we would never wish for such a thing to happen. We will not cut off the water, but the investments that Istanbulites need will be delayed.”
Stating that they will present the increased cost rates to the general assembly regarding the raise rate, Mermutlu said, "I believe that the general assembly will give a raise rate that we desire and that will most disturb the people of Istanbul."
PROJECTS
- The third stage of Tuzla Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will be the largest in Turkey, is about to be completed.
- Conversion of Baltalimanı Wastewater Treatment Plant, with a daily capacity of 600 thousand cubic meters, into biological treatment has come to an end.
- The work of the Cumayeri Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will serve in the Melen Basin, is being completed.
- The works of the İstavroz Wastewater Tunnel, which will end the wastewater entry into the Bosphorus, and the Ambarlı Wastewater Tunnels, which will increase the wastewater treatment quality of Istanbul, continue.
- Work continues on the Ayvalidere and Unkapanı Rainwater Tunnels, which will put an end to the flood risk at many critical points in 7 districts in total.
- Terkos-İkitelli Transmission Line construction, which will meet the increasing water demand of the European Side and enable İkitelli Drinking Water Treatment Plant to operate more efficiently, has come to an end.
- Work is being completed at our Terkos, Taşoluk and Şile Drinking Water Treatment Facilities.
- We are rapidly completing the pump system that will increase the capacity of the Melen System by 735 thousand cubic meters per day.
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