02.09.2025 07:32
The water levels in the dams supplying Istanbul have been measured at 39.98%. Experts evaluating İSKİ's data have made alarming predictions. Meteorological Engineer Adil Tek stated that if there is no rainfall, Istanbul has approximately three months' worth of water left. Meteorological Engineer Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Toros called for a mobilization to prevent water shortages in the megacity.
According to the data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ), the water level in the dams supplying water to the city has been recorded at 39.98% as of today.
THE WATER LEVEL IN DAMS IN ISTANBUL HAS FALLEN BELOW 40% The water levels were measured as follows: 35.39% in Ömerli, 52.71% in Darlık, 59.43% in Elmalı, 45.08% in Terkos, 24.03% in Alibey, 41.52% in Büyükçekmece, 37.68% in Sazlıdere, 32.91% in Istrancalar, 19.37% in Kazandere, and 30.91% in Pabuçdere.
WATER CONSUMPTION NEARS 3.5 MILLION The dams and ponds supplying water to the city have a total storage capacity of 868 million 683 thousand cubic meters, while the current water amount is recorded as 347.01 million cubic meters. The amount of rainfall that fell into the dams this year was 337.54 kilograms per square meter.
In addition to the dams, 409.78 million cubic meters of water have been received from Melen and Yeşilçay, which also supply water to the city, so far this year. Yesterday, water consumption in Istanbul reached 3 million 498 thousand cubic meters. Of the water supplied to the city, 229 thousand cubic meters came from regulators, while 3 million 269 thousand cubic meters were sourced from the dams.
EVERY YEAR IT DROPS A LITTLE MORE According to İSKİ statistics, the dam water levels on September 1 were recorded as 68.61% in 2015, 52.54% in 2016, 62.38% in 2017, 61.71% in 2018, 58.67% in 2019, 46.88% in 2020, 57.74% in 2021, 58.06% in 2022, 28.97% in 2023, 45.79% in 2024, and 39.98% in 2025.
"LONG-RUNNING RAIN IS NEEDED" Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Toros, a faculty member of the Climate Science and Meteorology Engineering Department at Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ), pointed out that the dams supplying water to Istanbul have only fallen below 40% on September 1 in 2023 in the last 10 years. Noting that today’s rate is the second lowest level in the last 10 years, Toros emphasized that daily water consumption in Istanbul sometimes exceeds 3.5 million cubic meters during the summer period.
Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Toros Prof. Dr. Toros stated, "Due to the hot weather in June and July in the city, there was both evaporation and an increased need for water. The Marmara Region has been extremely dry for the last two years. Therefore, the water level in the dams is also rapidly decreasing. Short-term rains do not affect the dams much because the soil is hot; they evaporate quickly. Continuous long-term rain is needed for water to reach the dams," he said.
"ISTANBUL HAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS OF WATER LEFT" Meteorological Engineer Adil Tek stated that if there is no rain, Istanbul has about 3 months of water left. Noting that approximately 14.4 kilograms of rainfall has fallen in the city since May over a period of about 3 months, Tek pointed out that according to the data from Kandilli Observatory, this amount has only been recorded below 7 kilograms in 2004 over a 100-year period.
Adil Tek Stating that "This summer has been the second driest summer with the least rainfall in the last 100 years," Tek added: "There seems to be no significant rainfall in the city in September. Rainfall is below normal levels. Similarly, in October and November, rainfall is also expected to be below normal levels. In December and January, rainfall is expected to return to normal and above normal levels. In other words, the people of Istanbul are again facing drought. Therefore, water-saving measures need to be implemented. Awareness about saving water needs to be raised. Izmir and Ankara have started to face a water crisis. The likelihood of Istanbul entering a water crisis also seems very high because rainfall is not expected to be at high levels in the next three months."