Turkey designates over 700 water areas as ‘fragile’

“There are around 2,457 ground water masses in Turkey. Some 778 of these are designated as fragile areas as far as pollution is concerned. Meanwhile, studies about dangerous materials that are specific to Turkey and are affecting human health have been concluded, while the environmental quality standards of these have also been identified. These [studies] will be taken to the Ground Water Quality Regulations,” said Kınacı, adding that the current water purification plants in Turkey were inadequate. 

Saying there were a number of firms in Turkey which carry out ground water quality observations in 6,200 points, Kınacı highlighted that making observations at 2,457 points was adequate according to EU standards.

“In Turkey, despite 172 million Turkish Liras worth spent per year, only one-third of the EU’s desired quality standards are reached. When this observation is made by a single institution, by the General Directorate of Turkish State Hydraulic Water [DSİ], all parameters that the EU wants in 2,457 points will be measured and the observation cost will decrease to 92 million liras,” said Kınacı.