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Water levels in reservoirs supplying Istanbul have fallen to 56.63%, driven by reduced rainfall and rising summer water consumption, prompting experts to warn that a water shortage could become more likely in autumn if rainfall remains insufficient.
According to data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI), reservoir water levels have continued to decline over the summer months due to reduced rainfall, hot weather and increased consumption. The city's reservoirs reached their highest fill level of the year on May 11 at 72.05%, but the rate has since dropped to 56.63%.
While the dams and reservoirs supplying the city have a total storage capacity of 868 million cubic meters, the amount of water stored was recorded at 491.46 million cubic meters. An additional 462.52 million cubic meters have been drawn this year from the Melen and Yesilcay water systems, which also supply the city.
Dr. Guven Ozdemir, a faculty member and meteorological engineer at Istanbul Aydin University, said that this year's average reservoir fill rate has been at a good level, but that rates have declined since the start of summer.
"If no water enters the reservoirs at all, and we don't draw from Melen and Yesilcay, we have 154 days' worth of water. That corresponds to almost five months," Ozdemir said.
He said daily water consumption ranges between 3.2 and 3.8 million cubic meters, and that drought conditions, reduced rainfall, strong winds and rapid evaporation during summer reduce the amount of water in the reservoirs.
"There's no problem for the summer, but starting from September, October and November, as the amount of water in our reservoirs decreases, there will be a water problem," Ozdemir said. "Even if Istanbul's current reservoir capacity were full, we would not have enough water to last a full year."
He emphasized the importance of water conservation, saying the recycling of used water needs to be ensured, particularly in institutions, residential complexes and industrial facilities, and that rainwater collection should also be encouraged.
Huseyin Toros, head of the Department of Climate Science and Meteorological Engineering at Istanbul Technical University's (ITU) Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, said reservoir fill rates should not be evaluated on their own, and that it would be more accurate to assess water resources together with meteorological conditions, consumption habits, and water drawn from external basins.
"The amount and consistency of rainfall starting in September will determine the level of water reserves with which we enter the winter season. For this reason, the rainfall pattern in the coming months needs to be closely monitored," Toros said.
He added that using water efficiently is just as important as supply, saying, "Expanding water-saving practices in homes, workplaces and industry, reusing treated wastewater in appropriate areas, and increasing rainwater storage systems will reduce the risk of water stress that could occur in the future."
Toros said individual water conservation can have significant results in metropolises like Istanbul, and that avoiding unnecessary water consumption, especially in summer, will contribute to sustainable water management.
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