KARALAR: “WATER WILL BE THE MOST CRITICAL COMMODITY OF THE FUTURE”
SEÇER: “IT IS IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THOSE WHO ARE AUTHORITIES IN THEIR FIELD”
YILDIZ: “WATER IS LIFE, AND WE WILL PROTECT LIFE TOGETHER”
Mayors, academics, and experts gathered at the “Another Water Management is Possible” program organized by the Union of Turkish Municipalities (UMT) in collaboration with the Adana Metropolitan Municipality.
Within the framework of the program held in Adana, topics such as the effects of climate change on water resources, the responsibilities of local governments in this area, water efficiency, climate change, drinking water and wastewater issues, and water law were discussed.
The opening speeches of the program were delivered by UMT Vice President and Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, UMT Council Member and Mersin Metropolitan Mayor Vahap Seçer, and Union Secretary General Suat Yıldız.
Karalar: “Water Will Be the Most Critical Commodity of the Future”
UMT Vice President and Adana Metropolitan Mayor Karalar emphasized that local governments must play a more active role in combating the climate crisis. Karalar said, “I have said that water will be the world's most important commodity in the very near future and that water wars could begin in 20-30 years. Since Adana is the province most affected by global warming, we thought it appropriate to hold this program in Adana with the UMT.”
Drawing attention to the ongoing conflicts around the world, Karalar said, “Iran was bombed this morning. Every day, we wake up to human tragedies around the world. Once again, we see how valuable Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words, ‘Peace at home, peace in the world,’ are. What a genius he was, may his soul rest in peace.”
Referring to recent political developments in Turkey, Karalar reiterated his reaction to the arrest of elected mayors, including UMT and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. “We are not against the law, oversight, or inspectors. However, we cannot remain silent about people who have been held in prison for months without an indictment or a clear crime,” Karalar said, adding that they hope the detained mayors will be released and return to their posts.
Karalar: “If we don't take action, the world will not have access to clean water.”
Karalar also mentioned that despite having two major rivers, Adana is one of the provinces most affected by climate change, saying, "Water is not an infinite resource. In the last 1-2 years, our dam capacity has been reduced by half. If we don't take action, 40% of the world's population will not have access to clean water by 2030.“ Karalar said that switching to a closed irrigation system has become a necessity, adding, ”We are now irrigating refuges with a closed system instead of wild irrigation. Turkey is a strong country, and it can make this investment."
Karalar also mentioned efforts to prevent water waste, stating that they aim to reduce the loss and leakage rate by 20% across Adana, resulting in a water savings of 13 million cubic meters.
Seçer: “Turkey is experiencing water stress”
UMT Council Member and Mersin Metropolitan Mayor Vahap Seçer pointed out in his speech that Turkey is not a water-rich country and that water management is one of the most fundamental problems in the world. Listing the problems as “agriculture, industry, and unconscious water use,” Seçer said, "There is a global climate crisis. Rainfall patterns have changed, becoming abnormal, with rains occurring contrary to scientific data and norms, but when you look, everything continues as before."
Referring to the dry winter season, Seçer explained that water shortages have begun in cities. Seçer gave examples of water usage in Mersin, saying, “We don't make our plans for watering gardens, we don't make them for unnecessary usage. We calculate losses and leaks, but there are losses and leaks far beyond our calculations. That's why there isn't enough water in the system.”
Seçer: “It's important to work with whoever has authority in which area”
Emphasizing the importance of contributions from civil society organizations, universities, and professional associations in water management, and the importance of making decisions together, Seçer said, “It is important in every way to work with those who have authority in their field, to listen to them, and to manage the city with them.”
Seçer described the steps taken and projects carried out in Mersin, noting that local administrations will do their part.
Yıldız: “Water is a universal value”
UMT Secretary General Yıldız also stated that the program is not only a technical sharing platform but also provides a strategic ground for evaluating multi-stakeholder water policies. Yıldız said, “Water is not just an infrastructure issue; it is a universal value with social, economic, and environmental dimensions that requires fair sharing and management.” Yıldız emphasized that they believe in a participatory rather than centralized approach to water management, one that prioritizes conservation over consumption and is based on the principles of integration and intergenerational justice. Yıldız said, “This meeting also offers an important opportunity to develop concrete solutions and strengthen our will to act together.”
In the opening speeches, Ferdi Zeyrek, the Mayor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, who lost his life in an accident at his home a few days ago, was also remembered. The speakers conveyed their condolences.
Academics Evaluated Water Management Policies
Following the opening speeches of the program, panel and seminar sessions were held with the participation of experts and institutional representatives in the field.
In the panel moderated by Prof. Dr. Seval Sözen, Turkey's water management policies, water potential, water allocations, and sectoral water distribution were discussed in a multidimensional manner. The panel included Prof. Dr. Burçak Kapur, Prof. Dr. Belgin Bayat, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çağatayhan Bekir Ersü, and Dr. Baran Bozoğlu, President of the Climate Change Policy and Research Association.
In the seminar program that followed the panel, various topics related to water management and climate change were presented by experts through technical presentations. The seminars were attended by Bülent Solmaz, Deputy General Manager of the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration; Emrah Kaplan, Deputy General Manager of the Adana Water and Sewerage Administration; Ali Yılmaz, Deputy General Manager of the Mersin Water and Sewerage Administration; Dr. Rıfat Ünal Sayman, Zeynep Özen, Head of the Parks and Gardens Department of Adana Metropolitan Municipality, and Prof. Dr. Doğan Dursun.
The panels and seminars, attended by academics, local government representatives, and experts, evaluated topics such as “water efficiency,” “losses and leaks,” “wastewater management,” and “resilience to climate change.”