Precautions to be Taken to Protect Drinking Water Explained

While Turkey continues to encounter more drought news every year, important statements came from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry about new practices that will save water and prevent loss. Bilal Dikmen, General Manager of Water Management, Various measures to be taken to prevent waste made statements about

With the Regulation on the Control of Water Losses in Drinking Water Supply and Distribution Systems, which entered into force on October 6, 2021, it is aimed to reduce water losses in water supply, transmission, distribution and consumption of water administrations. duties and responsibilities was determined. Speaking about this regulation, Dikmen used the following statements:

The average water loss rate in 2020 was 35.4%

“The water loss rate in 2020 was determined as 35.4 percent on average. By reducing this water loss rate to 25 percent, 624 million cubic meters of water annually recovered and about two billion lira economic loss of value will be blocked.”

In the regulation that entered into force, metropolitan and provincial municipalities are responsible for reducing water losses. 30% by 2023, 25% by 2028, other municipalities 35% by 2023 and 30% by 2028; By 2033, it was obliged to reduce it to 25%.

The mandatory booster system to be installed in the buildings will prevent the formation of bursts in the pipes.

“Hydraulic modeling work for drinking water networks, water velocity, flow, pressure etc. This is done to estimate the hydraulic parameters. By integrating the system into the Data Based Monitoring and Control System, the flow and pressure changes in the network can be continuously monitored. Here you can see how much water has been pumped into the network and how much has been billed. Like this, where and how much will be determined and repairs will be made where necessary.

In places with high water losses, the loss rate can be reduced below 40 percent by just managing the pressure. For example, pressure is applied to supply water to the 15th floor in an apartment. However, this pressure can result in the pipes bursting. If a booster system is installed in the buildings, less pressure will be applied from the center, thus eruptions will decrease and water loss will decrease.”

The use of gray water and rainwater harvesting will be expanded.

“Within the scope of adaptation to climate change We work with 30 metropolitan municipalities. We chose a municipality to represent each region as a pilot municipality. We will ensure the widespread use of gray water and rainwater harvesting. Apart from the water coming out of the toilet, it is possible to purify kitchen and bathroom water and use it as siphon water or to collect rain water and use it for irrigation. It just requires a simple system.”