Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has brought a new blue color to the city with its environmental investments. bayraklı beaches continue to gain. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which established the Blue Flag Coordination Unit for the first time in Turkey, bayraklı increased the number of public beaches to 40. İzmir, which has a total of 41 public beaches, Bayraklı With the number of beaches, it ranked third in Turkey after Antalya and Muğla.
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which established the Blue Flag Coordination Unit for the first time in Turkey, has been working on the Blue Flag Coordination Unit in the city within the scope of the coordination studies it has been carrying out since 2019. Bayraklı increased the number of public beaches. When the Blue Flag Coordination Unit was established, the number of Blue Flags increased from 19 to 40. With the Blue Flag waving at 41 of its 40 public beaches, İzmir ranked third in this area after Antalya and Muğla. In addition, İzmir Marina, which is the only marina in İzmir Bay and offered to the public by the Metropolitan Municipality, has been serving with the Blue Flag award since 2021.
We are very happy, we are proud
Noting that the Blue Flag award means the international confirmation of the cleanliness of sea water, the importance given to environmental management, and the cleanliness and reliability of beaches or marinas, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer“We continue our efforts to make İzmir a world-class tourism center of attraction. Our municipality's purification campaign, our city's Blue Bayraklı It was very effective in increasing the number of beaches. İzmir ranks first in Turkey with the number of treatments in European Union standards and the amount of wastewater treatment per capita. Ardıç Beach in Karaburun in 60 with the implementation of Mordoğan Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was completed by our İZSU General Directorate with an investment of 2022 million lira; This year, Kocakum Beach was awarded the Blue Flag award. In addition, Foça-Yenifoça Public Beach was again entitled to receive the Blue Flag Award. We are very happy and proud,” he said.
Leader in İzmir refining
Izmir, Blue Bayraklı With the number of beaches, it ranks third in Turkey after Antalya and Muğla. Within the scope of the Blue Flag program implemented in 50 countries around the world, Turkey ranks third after Spain and Greece with the number of awarded beaches. The purification campaign launched by Izmir with the goal of a swimmable Gulf Bayraklı It is very effective in increasing the number of beaches. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, which ranks first in Turkey with the number of treatments in European Union standards and the amount of wastewater treatment per capita, provides services with a total of 70 wastewater treatment plants. Thanks to the 2019 km rainwater separation line built since 220, more efficient operation of the treatment plants is ensured.
What was done?
The Blue Flag Coordination Unit aims to raise the standards of İzmir beaches in terms of bathing water quality, environmental management and life safety and to ensure that the Blue Flag criteria are implemented in the best way. The unit also organized courses to increase the number of lifeguards, which are insufficient for safe beaches, and awarded 195 youngsters the Silver Lifeguard Badge approved by the Turkish Aquatics Federation. It was ensured that the beaches were able to apply in a healthy way by identifying the deficiencies required for both sample and application. Control samples were taken during the season. Studies were carried out for barrier-free beaches. Environmental education and awareness raising activities were carried out throughout the year with the aim of creating sustainable beaches.
Education to 1457 students
The Blue Flag Coordination Unit, which operates under the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Department, will take place in 10 districts with the slogan "The Color of the Beaches: Blue" this summer season. Bayraklı Environmental education and awareness activities were organized on the beaches. Since January this year, 1457 students and 37 teachers have been reached through training, workshops and nautical-themed visits. It is aimed to support the sustainable use of beaches with cleaning campaigns, environmental workshops to be held with children, healthy living activities to be organized with young volunteers.
What is the Blue Flag?
Blue Flag is an international environmental award given to qualified beaches, marinas and yachts. There are 33 blue flag criteria for beaches, 38 for marinas and 17 for yachts. These criteria are gathered under the titles of swimming water quality at the beach, environmental education and information, environmental management, life safety and services. It is also among the mandatory criteria that all of the sanitary facilities on the beaches be connected to the package treatment plant or the municipal treatment plant. In accordance with the Bathing Water Quality Regulation for the Blue Flag candidate beaches, sea water samples are taken every 15 days during the summer season (between May and October), and microbiological analysis is performed. The results of the analyzes made by the Provincial Health Directorate are shared regularly.