19.02.2026 00:51
Lake Iznik, one of the largest freshwater sources in the Marmara Region, is raising alarms due to water loss experienced in recent years. The visible retreat along the shoreline indicates that the lake is on the verge of drying up. Vedat Çakar, the President of the Iznik Agricultural Chamber, claimed that some factories have been drawing water from the lake for years without a water meter.
Lake Iznik, one of the largest freshwater sources in the Marmara Region, is raising alarms due to water loss experienced in recent years.
ATTENTION TURNED TO INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES
While assessments are made that the water loss in the lake cannot be explained solely by drought, attention has turned to the industrial facilities around the lake. Claims have resurfaced that some factories operating in the Gemlik line are using lake water intensively. It is stated that the water usage of industrial facilities and the pressure on underground water resources negatively affect the lake's feeding balance.
A LIVELIHOOD FOR THOUSANDS
Lake Iznik, which is one of the most important ecosystems in the region with its surface area and natural structure, is not only a water source but also vital for tourism and the economy. The lake, which hosts local and foreign tourists during the summer months, serves as a livelihood for thousands of people through beach businesses, fishing activities, and agricultural irrigation.
A DIRECT THREAT TO THE REGIONAL ECONOMY
The decrease in water levels in the lake, the difficulties faced in fishing activities, the problems in agricultural irrigation, and the negative impact on coastal tourism directly threaten the regional economy. Many families living in Iznik and Orhangazi rely on the lake for their livelihoods, while the ongoing recession raises concerns for the future.
FACTORIES USE TONS OF WATER
Pointing out that factories using water from the lake do not even use water meters, Iznik Agricultural Chamber President Vedat Çakar stated, "Factories are drawing water from Lake Iznik. The Gemlik Fertilizer Factory was privatized in 2004. In 2020, the then mayor of the metropolitan municipality, Alinur Aktaş, requested a report on how much water this factory draws from the lake, and this factory could not even answer this question. Because there is not even a water meter on the pump from which water is drawn; a meter was not installed. In 2021, a meter was installed, and a contract for 10 million cubic meters of water was made. Why was a water meter not installed here between 2004 and 2020? How will we know how much water was used from the lake during these years? Drought began in 2016. As a precaution, the DSİ is saving water allocated for agriculture. There should be no savings from agriculture; agriculture is the lifeblood of this country's economy," he said.