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Authorities aim to remove a total of 2.8 million cubic meters of bottom sludge and mud from Van Lake as part of a long-running effort to cut pollution, get rid of foul odors and protect the lake ecosystem for future generations.
The cleanup, which started in 2021, is being carried out along a 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) stretch of shoreline with support from Türkiye's Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Van Metropolitan Municipality has so far removed and disposed of 2.185 million cubic meters of contaminated material.
Work is continuing around Iskele July 15 Martyrs Park, the Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant and the shoreline near Van Yuzuncu Yil University.
Excavators dig sludge and mud out of the lakebed before trucks carry the material away to a designated disposal site.
The operation has been divided into three stages. The first two have been completed, while work has moved into the third stage near the wastewater treatment plant and will continue toward the university campus.
Municipal environmental engineer Erdogan Gul said 40 personnel and 36 vehicles were involved in the operation. A long-reach excavator is being used to dig down as far as 2 meters in some areas, with around 900 cubic meters of sludge removed each day.
According to Gul, the cleanup has noticeably reduced pollution and removed much of the foul smell in areas frequently used by the public.
The cleaned sections of the shoreline have also been reopened to residents after being largely cleared of sludge and odor.
Site supervisor Bayram Ortasac said people had avoided parts of the shoreline around six years ago because of heavy mud and unpleasant smells.
He said the cleanup had significantly improved the area, while new parks and green spaces had been set up along the coast. Residents can now return to the lakeside and spend time there with their families.
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