Turkey should harvest rain water, professor suggests

ISTANBUL

Turkey will face an agricultural drought in the spring and should start rainwater harvesting according to an evaluation made by one of Turkey’s top meteorologists.

Professor Mikdat Kadıoğlu from the Istanbul Technical University’s Meteorological Engineering Department has recommended rainwater harvesting and the revival of rainwater cisterns, which have been prevalent throughout history.

According to a report released by the Turkish State Meteorological Service, a department of the Forestry and Water Affairs Ministry, rainfall in Turkey continued to decrease last year to an annual average of 506.6 millimeters.

In the eastern and southeastern Anatolian regions, rainfall has decreased more than 20 percent compared to the previous year and historical levels.

Prof. Kadıoğlu described the current situation as “meteorological and hydrological drought” and warned that an agricultural drought will be observed in the coming months.

“Since the start of this water year, which is October [2017], we have not seen enough rainfall in accordance with seasonal norms. As a result of this, dam levels are low, so at the moment, there is a meteorological and hydrological drought. We might observe the effects of the drought on agriculture in March and April when sowing and planting begin. However, in some parts of Turkey, an agricultural drought is already perceived and will be more obvious in the coming months,” he said.

“Rainwater should not be sent to the sea or to the sewage system. Rain harvesting is vital. In the cities, all projects including pools, ponds and streams should be restricted during times of drought,” Kadıoğlu added, suggesting that the historically widespread rainwater cisterns of Anatolia should be revived.

The professor also called for a plan for the protection of agricultural land and better urban-planning.