ISTANBUL, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- A severe drought has gripped northwestern Türkiye's Marmara region, the country's most populous and industrialized center, driving water levels to record lows and prompting emergency measures across major cities.
Reservoir water reserves in Bursa, a key regional center south of the Sea of Marmara, have fallen to a record low of 0.67 percent from 23 percent a year earlier. A recent study found that eight out of 10 natural springs on Uludag Mountain have dried up, with the rest showing an 80 percent drop in flow.
The Bursa Water and Sewage Administration has introduced 12-hour rotating water cuts in six districts, sparing essential facilities, a move expected to save about 100,000 cubic meters daily.
The northern Marmara region, known for its fertile lands and abundant rainfall, is also facing acute shortages, with water levels at 14 dams in Kirklareli, Edirne and Tekirdag down to just 26 percent of capacity.
In Istanbul, Türkiye's largest city, reservoir levels have fallen to historic lows, with several dams at or below 10 percent capacity. Overall storage stood at 24.9 percent.
The Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI) told Xinhua that Marmara has been classified as an area of exceptional meteorological drought in 2025, warning that reduced rainfall and reservoir inflows have placed heavy stress on surface-water-dependent drinking water systems.
To tackle the crisis, ISKI has introduced 62 targeted measures, including updating climate adaptation plans, raising public awareness of drought impacts, improving energy efficiency, strengthening disaster coordination and enhancing water-use efficiency.
The agency also noted that rainwater harvesting remains limited but has significant potential, particularly on large rooftops such as those of malls and factories. It recommended expanding infrastructure and providing incentives for new and redeveloped buildings to enhance water capture and reuse.
ISKI further emphasized the importance of designing water-sensitive cities and adapting urban planning to address water and energy challenges. According to the agency, such measures could help meet part of the industrial water demand and postpone the need for new drinking water infrastructure.
Fatih Konukcu, an academic at Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, highlighted that reducing water loss and leaks in urban networks could significantly cut waste. Halving current losses from 40 to 20 percent could effectively extend water availability by two to 2.5 months each year, he was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu Agency.
He also stressed the need to modernize irrigation systems and adopt precise watering techniques to supply crops only what they need. "Soil moisture retention can be increased by up to 50 percent, tapping into 'green water' from rainfall. This strategy maximizes water use without relying on 'blue water' from dams or reservoirs," Konukcu said. ■