17.10.2025 16:33
The average dam water level in Bursa has dropped to zero percent. The disaster in the city, known as the "water city," was captured by a drone from the air. The footage shows that the dams have completely dried up, while as part of the mobilization efforts, the construction of a treatment facility has accelerated to transfer 300,000 cubic meters from the 600 million cubic meter Çınarcık Dam to the city center.
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The drought caused by global warming has led to disaster in Bursa, known as the "water city." According to the data from Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sewerage Administration (BUSKİ), after the Nilüfer Dam, which supplies water to certain parts of the central districts of the city, including Nilüfer, Osmangazi, Yıldırım, and the nearby districts of Gürsu, Kestel, and Mudanya, the water level at the Doğancı Dam has also dropped to zero percent.
100 THOUSAND CUBIC METERS OF WATER SAVED WITH CUTS
As of October, BUSKİ implemented a planned water cut of 12 hours starting from October 1 in the districts of Osmangazi, Yıldırım, Nilüfer, Mudanya, Gürsu, and Kestel, achieving a daily water saving of 100 thousand cubic meters.
110 thousand cubic meters of water coming from the Çınarcık Dam, which is 5.5 times larger than the Doğancı Dam, meets one-third of the water needs that should come from the Nilüfer and Doğancı dams. Bursa's daily water requirement of 500 thousand cubic meters has decreased to 400 thousand cubic meters due to the planned water cuts.
RAIN AND SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO FEED THE DAMS
With the planned cut, 40% of the 400 thousand cubic meters of water used in Bursa comes from the Doğancı and Nilüfer dams, 20% from the Çınarcık Dam, and 40% from the Uludağ spring sources and water wells. With the rain that fell last week and the snow that fell on Uludağ, it is expected that the Doğancı Dam will also be fed with water in the coming days.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TREATMENT PLANT HAS BEEN ACCELERATED
On the other hand, the construction of the treatment plant has been accelerated to transfer 300 thousand cubic meters from the 600 million cubic meter Çınarcık Dam to the city center. The construction, which is planned to be completed by May 4, 2026, is being prioritized for completion as soon as possible.
THESE ROADS WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR 1 MONTH
As part of the Çınarcık Water Project to be carried out by the BUSKİ General Directorate Drinking Water Department, the section of Nasrettin Hoca Boulevard in the Kurtuluş neighborhood of Nilüfer district, from the İzmir Road connection to the intersection of Örencik Street, will be closed to traffic from October 17 to November 17.
AGRICULTURE IS IN DANGER
The ongoing water crisis is negatively affecting agriculture in Bursa, which meets a significant portion of Turkey's vegetable and fruit needs. Many fruits and vegetables such as peaches, pears, figs, cherries, olives, strawberries, grapes, walnuts, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, tomatoes, and beans grown in the Bursa Plain are sent to many provinces in Turkey, and if the drought continues, it is suggested that production in the agricultural city of Bursa may face difficulties.
"WE WILL NO LONGER SEE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS ON OUR TABLES"
Murat Demir, the President of the Nature and Environment Protection Association (DOĞADER), stated that the ongoing drought is also affecting agriculture, saying, "Water in Bursa is not only important for drinking but also crucial for Turkey's vegetable and fruit needs. The drying of lakes and dams due to drought poses a serious threat. If this problem continues in the coming days, we will no longer see vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peaches on our tables. Agriculture, as you know, has a very high water requirement. Here, of course, it is necessary to change the methods of water usage and irrigation in agriculture. The wild irrigation known as flood irrigation is being practiced in Bursa. This should be abandoned and intervened. With the support of the state and local governments, farmers and those engaged in agriculture should be provided with opportunities for drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, and incentives should be given, and support should be provided," he said.
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