MERT INAN- Noting that nearly half of the total water supplied to Istanbul last year was covered by Melen’s regulator, former DSI director and Water Policy Association chairman Dursun Yıldız said said: “The Melen dam, which will be the insurance of Istanbul’s water supply, should be finished now. Cracks occurred in the dam body due to ground settlements. From then on, DSI quickly prepared a new project to reinforce the existing dam and tendered the construction work on February 28, 2020. The company, which submitted a bid for TL 412 million 151 thousand 148, planned to complete the reinforcement on February 26, 2023. However, company officials re-prepared some of the projects under the tender as they did not comply with international standards and some work items had to be modified. The changes revealed the new price chart. DSI and the company could not reach an agreement on the new prices. While the completion rate of the work was around 10%, the company decided to liquidate the project due to the unexpected increase in prices. For a few weeks, the work has been stopped. The delay in the construction of the dam means additional money that will come out of the citizen’s pocket,” he said.
“TAKE RISKS”
Pointing out that almost half of Istanbul’s water is supplied by Melen, Yıldız said: “Many huge pumps are used to bring this water to the European side. As the pumps stretch for 160 kilometers, water is pumped up to a total height of 300 meters and delivered to Istanbul. If the dam were completed, this pump height would decrease by 100 meters and the energy cost would decrease by 30%. Continued uncertainty in Melen endangers Istanbul’s water supply security and water quality. Perhaps the alternative of constructing a new Melen dam in the most suitable location should be evaluated quickly. In case the construction of the Melen dam is abandoned and the water supply continues with the Melen 1 and Melen 2 regulators, the question of supplying the water demand of the European part of Istanbul by making new planning, with an innovative water management approach and taking into account alternative water sources, should also be considered.
“THE FATE OF ISTANBUL WATER DEPENDS ON MELEN”
Stating that the increase in energy cost due to the problem of Melen Dam has led to a significant increase in the unit cost of water, Yıldız said, “If Melen Dam had been put into operation, it would have been possible to reduce this cost by at least a third. . In addition, if the Melen dam had been put into operation, the hydroelectric energy to be drawn from this dam would have been used in the pumps, reducing the energy cost of water. The electricity cost calculated by İSKİ for 2022 was 1 billion 300 million TL, but this figure has increased to 3 billion TL with the latest electricity hikes. The fate of Istanbul’s water somehow depends on the Melen Dam.
Stating that drought due to global climate change will negatively affect the Melen Basin will create a huge problem for Istanbul, Yıldız listed the following warnings: “Water should be used very efficiently. Istanbul absorbs the water resources that surround it like a sponge. Training and promotions should be organized to increase citizens’ awareness of water use. Facilities that use water efficiently should be used. Rudeness such as car washing and carpet washing should be stopped. We must use water very carefully when washing dishes and laundry.
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