the case of the gediz river in turkey

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH and

APPLICATION CENTER Tınaztepe Campus, 35160 Buca, Izmir, Turkey

The Case of the Gediz River in Turkey

SMARTSustainable Management of Scarce Resources in

the Coastal Zone

5–6 January 2003

Cairo,EGYPT



INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONCurrent Issue: sustainable management of water short basinsCase: Gediz River Basin in Turkey hydrology water use patterns legal, institutional, environmental factors



Gediz Basin

Izmir

Istanbul

Population: 65M (65% Urban)

Growth: 1.5% (rural – 0.7%)

GDP: Agriculture 15% (45% employment)

Industry 23%

Services 62%


APPLICATION CENTER Tınaztepe Campus, 35160 Buca, Izmir, TurkeyGEDIZ BASIN:: trend from a water rich basin to one that is closing due to: Drought of 1989-1994 Above average increase in urban and

industrial demand (COMPETITION FOR WATER)

Issues of water quality and environmental protection (concerns for the wetland)

Slower institutional response in water allocation and management



IMPORTANT ISSUES: The increasingly apparent need for a unified

coordinating mechanism for allocating water among various uses to replace existing bilateral processes.

The continuing struggle between older long-established institutions dealing with water resource development and water allocation and emerging institutions concerned primarily with water quality and environmental issues.



The need to represent and protect the interests of certain water users, such as the Gediz Delta ecology and the Irrigation Associations.

The need for clear rules assigning responsibility for setting water quality and quantity standards and monitoring actual conditions and for sufficient political power and will to sanction violators of the standards.

IMPORTANT ISSUES:



The Current Status of the BasinMajor Problems

little new water available for allocation the institutional set-up is not yet fully

developed both surface and groundwater use are

largely unregulated groundwater extraction is growing rapidly

in response to urban and, particularly, industrial demand



there is no functional system of allocating rights to either surface or ground water

deteriorating water quality in the Gediz and its tributaries resulting from urban and industrial wastewater discharges and, to a lesser extent, agricultural return flows.

The Current Status of the BasinMajor Problems



Institutional Framework

two public agencies responsible for in-stream and wastewater quality monitoring, but with no enforcement powers

the provincial governor has the enforcement power



compartmentalized responsibilities for basin planning and monitoring

limited coordination among the responsible units is limited

severe imbalance in power among the various involved parties – industry, municipalities, agriculture, and the environment.

Institutional Framework



Solutions require: systematizing water rights developing coordinating mechanisms

among managers, involving the private sector in wastewater

treatment, and the emergence of an effective NGO-

based advocacy for environmental concerns in the basin.


APPLICATION CENTER Tınaztepe Campus, 35160 Buca, Izmir, TurkeyWater Resources typically Mediterranean after the irrigation season, flows only from

the few larger tributaries plus residual return flows from irrigated areas and industrial and municipal wastewater discharges to the river

net annual surface water availability : 1,900 million cubic meters per year (before drought)

after drought: 940 million cubic meters per year

Hydrology:



current demand: 660 million cubic meters per year

1991-1993: declining year-to-year water tables safe annual yield for groundwater in the main

part of the valley and Nif valley: 160 million cubic meters (less than 219 million cubic meters estimated as being extracted)

groundwater use exceeds, by the sustainable limit

Water Resources Hydrology::



CHANGING PATTERNS OF DEMANDNON-AGRICULTURAL DEMAND high increases higher than average

growth rate: in-migration growth of domestic

demand: 2-3% per year growth of industrial

demand: 10% per year domestic and industrial

demand met by groundwater

growing concern for water quality

Population and Estimated Pollution Loads, 1970-2010

050.000

100.000150.000200.000250.000300.000350.000

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010Time

BOD

[kg/

day]

0

500.000

1.000.000

1.500.000

2.000.000

2.500.000

Popu

latio

n

Domestic BOD Industrial BOD Population



CHANGING PATTERNS OF DEMANDPopulation and Estimated Pollution Loads, 1970-2010

050.000

100.000150.000200.000250.000300.000350.000

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010Time

BOD

[kg/

day]

0

500.000

1.000.000

1.500.000

2.000.000

2.500.000

Popu

latio

n

Domestic BOD Industrial BOD Population

IRRIGATION drought effects on

changing demand rice replaced by cotton increase in grapes and

fruits (reduced demand for irrigation water)

total irrigation deliveries: 70% of the pre-drought situation



Basin Water Uselargest user: irrigated agriculture total command area: 110 000 ha water use: 550 million m3/y40 000 ha of irrigated land: pump-based


APPLICATION CENTER Tınaztepe Campus, 35160 Buca, Izmir, TurkeyMUNICIPAL AND URBAN USE towns and villages in the basin diversions to Izmir (no return flow) no accurate records on total water

extractions all municipal extractions: groundwater: 130

million cubic meters per year



all industrial extractions: groundwater no accurate records bird sanctuary: RAMSAR site since 1990, the reserve suffers from water

shortages (summer months) water required for waste conveyance from

within Basin to the sea

MUNICIPAL AND URBAN USE



Estimated Water Use by SectorWater User

EstimatedConsumption Notes

[millionm3]

Share

Surface Water

Large Scale Irrigation

Small Scale IrrigationHydropowerBird Reserve

5506050

04

62%7%6%

--

From Demirkopru and Gol MarmaraAlasehir Valley

No priority for hydropowerCurrent releases only; needs more

Groundwater

Pump Irrigation GroupsPrivate IrrigatorsUrban within the BasinTransfer to Izmir CityIndustry

305

26108

50

3%1%2%

12% 6%

Only those outside surface irrigation area

18% of extraction, remainder is return flowTrans-basin transfer, no return flowEstimated by DSI

Totals

AnnualSummer (4 months)

833760

100%



Review of Physical Conditions total withdrawals: 660 MCM 83% of that going to large-scale irrigation

systems inadequate allocation for wetlands no hydroelectric power generation after

the drought



increasing water pollution (urban and municipal demand increasing 6-8% per year)

16% of groundwater used for irrigation; majorly for domestic and industrial use

pressure on aquifers (quantity and quality) additional allocations for waste load transport

and dilution.

Review of Physical Conditions


APPLICATION CENTER Tınaztepe Campus, 35160 Buca, Izmir, TurkeyKey actors and essential basin management functions in the Gediz Basin

Note: indicates activity; indicates limited activity. Note: DSI = State Hydraulics Works Organization, GDRS = General Directorate for Rural Services,

MoE = Ministry of Environment, Local Governments = Locally elected urban governments (municipalities and villages), MoI = Ministry of Interior, NGO = (environmental) non-governmental organizations.

Note: Surface water is used only for irrigation and environmental purposes.


APPLICATION CENTER Tınaztepe Campus, 35160 Buca, Izmir, TurkeyLEGAL, POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT 11 essential functions limited planning at basin level no integrated plan to consider both surface

and groundwater water allocation by independently operating

agencies (DSI, private surface and groundwater irrigators, industries)

no national legal framework for surface water rights



both surface and groundwater are open access resources

water quality monitoring exists but information is not available in useful forms

only the provincial governor has enforcement on wastewater discharges

no attention paid to agricultural return flows agricultural drainage infrastructure inadequately

maintained NGOs have no role in performing essential

functions

LEGAL, POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT


APPLICATION CENTER Tınaztepe Campus, 35160 Buca, Izmir, TurkeySUMMARY OF PROBLEMSPoor Surface Water Quality. weak enforcement, weak coordination among involved agencies, limited availability of data, haphazard monitoring of wastewater

discharges, inadequate funding for wastewater treatment

plants, and limited public awareness of the problem.



Unknown Groundwater Quality. groundwater quality monitoring is not widespread

Loosely-controlled Allocation Among Users. inadequate representation of user interests, inadequate specification of water needs, ineffective reporting and record keeping.

SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS



Long-Term Problems. require more fundamental changes in laws,

policies, institutions, and practices.Rudimentary Water Rights System,Lack of integrated planning.

SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS



STRENGTHS TO BUILD ON presence of DSI water quality is serious but not yet

catastrophic proportions recognition of different actors for

solution of water quality problems



recognition of multiple dimensions to water resource management problems – different disciplines, different interests, different uses, ground and surface water, quantity and quality, and so on.

a new water law under consideration

STRENGTHS TO BUILD ON



CHALLENGES systematize water rights; build representational presence and

political muscle; develop coordinating mechanisms such

as a basin authority; and

involve the private sector.

the case of the gediz river in turkey

Documents