Water Supply Crisis in Ankara: Review and Comparison of the “1995 Master Plan Report on Ankara Water Supply Project”

Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 7(3), pp. 288-299, 23 January, 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE DOI: 10.5897/SRE10.833 ISSN 1992-2248 ©2012 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Water supply crisis in Ankara: Review and comparison of the “1995 master plan report on Ankara water supply project” Carter Franz1*, Sahnaz Tigrek2 and Aysegül Kibaroglu3 1Civil & Environmental Engineer, Techknow Engineering, 30 East Adams Street, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60603, U.S.A. 2Civil Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University, 06531 Ankara, Turkey. 3International Relations Department, Okan University, Istanbul, Turkey. Accepted 31 October, 2011 The purpose of this study was to compare technical recommendations for water supply projects for the city of Ankara, Turkey with institutional decisions that led to a water supply crisis during a drought in August, 2007. The authors provide an evaluation of government institutions responsible for planning and provision of Ankara’s water supply and treatment, and an analysis and comparison of the “1995 Master Plan Report on Ankara Water Supply Project” commissioned by Turkey’s General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) and assigned to Japan’s Pacific Consultants International Group. The comparison reveals that Ankara’s water authorities did not heed to the advice of technical recommendations. Such planning failures led to a delay in necessary project implementation to prevent water shortages in the case of drought, uneconomical and unsustainable water pipeline transmission routes, and a loss of public trust in the authorities. Moreover, concerns and criticisms of civil society organizations were not taken into account by the water authorities in a constructive manner. Lack of dialogue and consultation among the stakeholders exacerbated the crisis and prevented opportunities to reach participative and democratic management and use of limited water resource in the city. As Ankara’s urban population is rapidly increasing so will the potable and industrial water needs. Streamlining the way in which the city manages water will be necessary to ensure a sustainable water future. Key words: Water crisis, Ankara water, drought preparedness, Mediterranean water management, urban water. INTRODUCTION As climate change increases the likelihood of droughts in that hit Athens, Greece between 1989 and 1991 (Kaika, semi-arid regions and as urban populations burgeon, 2003)). The importance of drought preparedness cannot drinking water supplies will be increasingly stressed. be understated and examinations of recent supply crises Drinking water shortages are endemic to the Mediter- provide valuable lessons for the future. One such case is ranean region (a historical example being the drought the 2007-2008 water supply crisis in Ankara, Turkey. Located in the semi-arid central Anatolia region, Ankara witnesses seasonal and yearly variation in precipitation (Figure 1). Such variation has been identified as an *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. impediment to making long-range water planning decisions in the Mediterranean Region (Iglesias et al, Abbreviations: ASKI, Ankara water and sewerage 2007; Ceylan, 2002). Statistics indicate Ankara can administration; DSI, general directorate of state hydraulic works; expect a drought once every four years and that the MEF, the ministry of environment and forestry; MP, master return period for a severe drought that affects 50% of the plan. Franz et al. 289 2010 population: 4.5-5 million people (estimate) Population increase during past 40 years: 400% Urban Population Share 2010: 65% Projected Urban Share 2025: 85 % Water Stress Factors: Population growth, increased standard of living Climate: Mediterranean Macroclimate (first degree mesothermal semi-arid) Periods of severe drought: 1973, 1977, 1984, 1989-91, 1999-2000, 2006-08 Figure 1. Location of Ankara in Turkey and key facts. Ankara is located in Central Anatolia (the shaded region), which is within the Mediterranean Macroclimate (first degree mesothermal semi-arid climate) region. Source: Yildiz (2007), Atmis et al. (200)7. Figure 2. Drought intensity areal extent-frequency curve for Central Anatolia. This graph depicts the drought intensity-areal extent-frequency curve for the Central Anatolian Region with selected historical droughts in the area. The various year increments are recurrence intervals (Yildiz, 2007). region is 5 years (Figure 2). drinking water network were below 5% capacity in the Between 2006 and 2008, Ankara witnessed one such summer of 2007 and nearly empty in the summer of 2008 period. The water levels in the dams that supply the main (Figure 3). In August of 2007, the city implemented a two- 290 Sci. Res. Essays Figure 3. Volume of water retained in Ankara‟s drinking water reservoirs. According to official figures, Ankara‟s water sources have a total capacity of 1.5 billion m3. The volume in August of 2007 dropped to 50 million m3, or below 5% capacity. By the summer of 2009 the reservoirs had returned to 24% capacity due to above average rainfall (ASKI). Figure 4. Estimated water supply and demand of Ankara prior to kizilirmak addition . Currently, Ankara is served by five dammed reservoirs constructed over the last thirty years at the request of the 1969 Master Plan. These are Kurtbogazi, Camlidere, Egrekkaya, Akyar, and Cubuk, which provide approximately 341 million cubic meters per year. Its current yearly drinking water demand is approximately 334,194,000 cubic meters per year (ASKI). days-on, two-days-off strategy to conserve water, dividing were constructed over the course of the following 11 the city into two sections that alternately faced 48-h water months to transfer water from the Kesikkopru Reservoir cuts. Water for vital operations such as hospitals had to located on the Kizilirmak River to the Ivedik water be provided in tanker trucks. Because of a water main treatment plant 10 km north of Ankara, the hub of a burst due to pressure differentials from the water cuts centralized distribution network. Figure 4 shows the (also known as water hammer), some districts were estimated supply and demand for drinking water in without water for up to ten consecutive days and Ankara and Figure 5 shows the location of the city‟s experienced flooding reservoirs and treatment plant. In April of 2010, the World To add water to Ankara‟s depleted reservoir supply the Water Organization presented the municipality of Ankara, “Kizilirmak River Rehabilitation Project” broke ground in Turkey with its “Best Practice Award” for the “Kizilirmak April of 2007. Three adjacent pipelines 130 km in length River Rehabilitation Project” at the United Nations Franz et al. 291 Akyar Egrekkaya Gerede-Camlıdere tunnel Çamlıdere Kavşakkaya Cubuk II Kurtbogazi Ivedik TP Pursaklar TP ANKARA Legend Gravity transmission lines Kızılırmak transmission line Pumped transmission line Kapulukaya Tunnel transmission line Dams Treatment plants Kesikköprü Figure 5. Schematic map of Ankara‟s dams and transmission lines (Gravity transmission lines are in service at present, pumped transmission line used during drought and tunnel is under construction). headquarters in New York City. On the surface, it may River was controversial and highly publicized throughout appear that Ankara‟s rapid response to water shortages the country owing to questions over its perceived safety was commendable. However, the use of the Kizilirmak for use in the drinking water supply. Additionally, 292 Sci. Res. Essays PLANNING Stage-1: DSI hires private engineering consulting firm to compose 50-year Master Plan Stage-2: Master Planners determine most economical, timely, and technically sound plan of action Stage-3: DSI recommends to ASKI and MEF the preferred plan of action Stage-4: ASKI and MEF are entrusted to take into consideration the recommendations of master plan and execute to the best of their ability EXECUTION Stage-5: MEF ensures environmental regulations are met (ie. Wastewater treatment plants must be implemented upstream of drinking water withdrawal points) Stage-6: ASKI raises funds (from the city if approved by the mayor, EU accession funds, among other means) and contracts engineering firms to construct water supply projects Figure 6. Drinking water supply procurement planning process. Public water supply in Ankara is managed by three separate agencies, each with separate and interrelated responsibilities. Two of them are National ministries and one, ASKI, is municipal. technical experts and water policy critics had warned and Understanding the role of water authorities in urban (Ankara’s) public officials were well aware that existing water supply water planning would run short in the early 2000‟s if new water sources Three government agencies are responsible for urban water supply were not exploited. This article intends to show that the planning in Ankara (Figure 6). The General Directorate of State costs associated with the “Kizilirmak River Rehabilitation Hydraulic Works (DSI) was established by Law No. 6200 in 1953 Project” were unnecessarily high and that long term (DSI, 2009). DSI is empowered to plan, design, construct and strategic planning, reform of infrastructure delivery operate dams, and domestic water and irrigation schemes. Hence, methods, and prudent decision making could have DSI is entrusted with (Law No. 1053) the provision of water supply for cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, provided that the prevented the crisis altogether. government

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