
Following the dry winter season, the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has taken action against possible water shortages in the summer months. In line with Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay’s “Drought Combat Action Plan,” intensive work has been initiated to use the city’s valuable water resources in the most efficient way. In this context, the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Parks and Gardens Department organized a special training program for field personnel, emphasizing the vital importance of water conservation and providing detailed information on modern irrigation techniques. The training emphasized that not even a single cubic meter of water should be wasted.
Water Losses Will Be Prevented with Conscious Irrigation
In the trainings organized by the Department of Parks and Gardens, incorrect practices such as unconscious irrigation examples, unnecessary ponding in green areas, leaks in water installations and excessive irrigation, which were frequently encountered in parks in the past, were visually conveyed to the personnel. It was emphasized that unconscious and unplanned irrigation not only leads to water loss but can also cause serious damage to the plant ecosystem. In the trainings, detailed information was also provided about the smart irrigation systems launched in Izmir's parks, and practical information and methods were shared so that the personnel can effectively prevent water leaks in the field and use the water resource with the most correct methods.
Emphasis on “Right Method, Right Amount, Right Time”
Speaking to the personnel about the importance of irrigation during the training, Parks and Gardens Department Head Halit Çelik stated that it is of vital importance for green areas in the city to be healthy, sustainable and aesthetic. Çelik stated that irrigation is the most critical link in this process and said that the importance of this critical point was highlighted with the training. “The right method, the right amount and the right time of irrigation are important for the efficient use of underground and surface water resources as well as affecting our green areas. There is a climate crisis that threatens our country and our world. The water level in dams also reveals this,” he said, drawing attention to the urgency of water saving.
Smart Irrigation Technology Becomes Widespread: 60 Percent Savings Achieved
Halit Çelik, who announced that the smart irrigation technology application launched in parks will be spread throughout the city, stated that Mayor Cemil Tugay showed great sensitivity to climate and water crisis issues. Çelik, who stated that as the Parks and Gardens Department, they have achieved a serious water saving of 60 percent by implementing the smart irrigation system in Esra and Işılay Saygın parks, emphasized that they aim to implement this successful application in all active green areas and that these trainings play an important role in achieving this goal.
“We Don’t Have the Luxury of Wasting Even a Single Cubic Meter of Water”
Saadet Çağlın, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of İZENERJİ, which continues its meticulous work within the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality to ensure water saving, reminded that periodic irrigations will start due to the season and said, “We do not have the luxury of wasting a cubic meter of water that does not produce any benefit for the plant. Because we do not have water. Parks and gardens constitute 80 percent of the water consumption of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. We consume a total of 6 million tons, 5 million tons of which is used by the Parks and Gardens Department. The efficiency we will achieve here is really very important for both underground water and ecological balance. After these trainings, we will start the season more consciously, knowing the value of both our water and our plants. The success of the result will be the success of all of us. Because I believe that we will make a revolution this year. We will protect both our areas and our water.” These statements clearly show that İzmir Metropolitan Municipality is determined to save water and that it works in coordination with all its units.