Istanbul, Turkey
As the meeting point of Europe and Asia, Istanbul has been an economic and trade hub for centuries, becoming the largest city in Turkey and all of Europe (Öztürk &Altay, 2015). In the 1930s, groundwater wells were used for drinking water and for various industries like textiles, with and without official sanction. By the 1960s, many wells had run dry and become mixed with saltwater or other contaminants (Demiroglu, 2019). This early overuse of groundwater led to a reliance on water bodies outside the city. Today, 97% of Istanbul’s supply comes from surface water, originating in reservoirs and lakes on both the European and Asian continents (Altinbilek, 2006; Öztürk & Altay, 2015; Yalcintas et al., 2015). Remote reservoirs and water transportation are associated with contamination at the reservoir sites, losses during transport, and shortages during periods of drought. To keep up with Istanbul’s growing population and growing water demand, the government has developed other dams and procured additional water resources outside the city. The effects of climate change, coupled with a growing population, contamination, and significant water losses, will increase pressure on the system in the coming years.
Istanbul is home to nearly 15 million people and spans over 5,000 sq. km on the European and Asian continents. Istanbul experiences a Mediterranean climate, but due to its size also experiences more rainfall in the north and even snow in the east. In the last two decades, Istanbul has experienced multiple droughts. These droughts have affected the city’s surface water resources held in multiple reservoirs outside the city (Easton, 2017). The majority of the population in Istanbul lives on the European side, whereas much of its resources, including water, are stored predominantly on the Asian side. The growing population adds stress to an already water-scarce city, requiring further procurement of resources. Elaborate water transport systems span the city, under the Bosporus Strait and outside city limits, delivering water to the metropolis. Today, the water transport system in Istanbul spans 20,000 km (Öztürk & Altay, 2015). The city depends on a decentralized water management system. With increasing growth and water demand, changes are needed to make this system sustainable.
The city is projected to continue to grow because of its bustling economy, constituting 55% of trade in Turkey. Migrants within Turkey and refugees from neighboring countries such as Syria continue to move to the city. According to current estimates, the population is expected to reach 21 million by 2050 (Cuceloglu et al., 2017).
