Water Crisis in Izmir: Declining Dam Levels and Water Cuts Begin in 11 Districts

Water Crisis in Izmir: Declining Dam Levels and Water Cuts Begin in 11 Districts

The water levels in the dams supplying drinking water to Izmir continue to drop steadily. According to data from the Izmir Water and Sewerage Administration (İZSU) as of August 6, 2025, the water reserves in the city’s dams have significantly decreased compared to the same period last year.

Tahtalı Dam, which provides about 50% of Izmir’s drinking water, is only 7.97% full, down from 22.55% last year. Other dams have also seen sharp declines: Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş Dam (2.83%), Güzelhisar (57.55%), Ürkmez (10.36%), and Balçova (27.66%). Meanwhile, Gördes Dam in Manisa, another water source for Izmir, is at a critically low 0.08% capacity.

Due to the severe water shortage, rotational water cuts have begun today in 11 central districts of Izmir. The cuts will be in effect from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM, initially affecting Bayraklı, Gaziemir, and Konak. Other districts, including Karşıyaka, Çiğli, Buca, Karabağlar, Bornova, Balçova, Narlıdere, and Güzelbahçe, will face similar cuts in the coming days.

Residents have started stockpiling water in tanks, buckets, and containers to cope with the outages. Some businesses, such as bakeries, are relying on water reserves, but concerns remain about the sustainability of this situation. Many citizens report reducing shower times and optimizing dishwasher use to conserve water.

To reduce consumption, the irrigation of parks and green spaces has been halted, leading to widespread drying and yellowing of grass in areas like Konak Square and Karşıyaka’s coastline. According to Izmir Municipality, 5 million cubic meters of water were previously used annually for park irrigation.

Experts warn that declining rainfall and climate change have worsened the crisis. They emphasize the urgent need for measures like greywater recycling, rainwater harvesting, and stricter restrictions on household and industrial usage.

This situation is reminiscent of 2008, when Izmir last faced large-scale water cuts due to severe shortages in Tahtalı Dam.