Within the framework of adaptation to climate change, the Water Efficiency Strategy Document and Action Plan (2023-2033), which was prepared for the purpose of ensuring sustainable welfare and maintaining healthy and quality living standards, and which serves as a guide for all stakeholders in the protection of water resources, was put into practice. Water Efficiency Strategy Document and Action Plan in the Framework of Adaptation to the Changing Climate” was published in the Official Gazette and entered into force.
According to the statement made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, action has been taken to evaluate the solutions and developments in a participatory and multi-stakeholder manner in order to adapt to the changing climate, protect water resources in terms of quality and quantity, and ensure their sustainable management. The National Water Efficiency Mobilization was initiated under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in order to create and implement strategy action plans in this regard.
As part of the mobilization, a Water Efficiency Mobilization Promotion Meeting was held at the Presidential Complex on January 31, 2023, under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, and the strategies to be implemented to take action on water efficiency on a national scale were announced to the public.
Our country is located in the Mediterranean climate zone and is considered among the countries that will be most affected by the negative effects of climate change. Projections on how our water resources in our basins will be affected in the future due to climate change indicate that our water resources may decrease by up to 30 percent in the next century.
With the increasing population, urbanization, industrial and agricultural activities, the demand for water increases in direct proportion. For these reasons, it has become a necessity to develop a road map to increase efficiency in water use in all sectors, especially in urban, agricultural and industrial areas. In this context, strategies for resource efficiency for each sector are of great importance for the sustainable management of water resources, since water is a resource that is used in common between sectors.
The study, prepared with the aim of ensuring sustainable welfare, preserving healthy and high quality living standards and leaving a proud legacy to our future generations, is a guide for all our stakeholders in the protection of our water resources.
During the preparation process of the plan, active participation of stakeholders and inclusiveness were prioritized. In the prepared document, water efficiency targets, strategies and actions were defined on 4 main axes: “Urban Water Use Efficiency”, “Agricultural Water Use Efficiency”, “Industrial Water Use Efficiency” and “Water Use Efficiency Affecting All Sectors”.
The Action Plan has been built on a total of 4 main axes, and the document includes 4 main objectives, 9 national targets, and 49 priority actions. The action plans prepared as a component of the document include the measures to be implemented in the 2023-year period covering the years 2033-10.
Improving urban, agricultural, industrial water use efficiency and expanding alternative water resources (reuse of used water, gray water use, rainwater harvesting), reducing water footprint, affordable water pricing, improving institutional capacity, cooperation, training and awareness activities in the strategy document are among the prominent topics.
Among the priority objectives of the document are the following:
“Reducing the water loss rate to 2033 percent by 25 and 2040 percent by 10 in all municipalities by increasing water efficiency in local administrations,
Reducing the average daily water consumption per person to 2030 liters by 120 and 2050 liters by 100 by increasing the efficiency of household and individual water use,
Increasing the irrigation efficiency to 2030 percent by 60 and to 2050 percent by 65 by spreading the practices that increase agricultural water use efficiency,
By applying clean production techniques and water efficiency measures in the industry, water savings of up to 50 percent will be achieved.”
In the prepared document, strategies and actions for the efficient use of water in all sectors and by all our stakeholders for the next century, as well as institutions and organizations that will take responsibility and cooperate with were determined.
In addition, the national targets on water efficiency and the necessary actions to achieve those targets; Efficient use of water methods, dissemination of alternative, that is, non-traditional water resources, reuse of used water, rainwater harvesting, use of gray water, recycling, pricing of water to encourage appropriate and efficient use, raising awareness about water footprint and reducing our footprint to sustainable levels, Issues related to capacity building in legal, administrative and technical terms, training, awareness, common sense and cooperation studies were included.
Water efficiency website launched
The website suverimliligi.gov.tr, which was prepared to raise awareness about water efficiency mobilization, was also put into service.
Activities carried out within the scope of the mobilization, documents prepared and other information can be accessed on the website.