The driest province in Turkey is Muğla.

According to the drought map published by the General Directorate of Meteorology, Muğla, which is the driest city in the last 6 months, has achieved significant success by providing uninterrupted water to citizens through the MUSKİ General Directorate.

The General Directorate of Meteorology has published a ‘drought’ map covering the period between April and September 2024. According to the map, Muğla is shown as the driest city. It is noteworthy that Muğla is categorized as ‘extremely dry’ in the map prepared by the Meteorology. Additionally, the amount of rainfall in Muğla has decreased by 20% compared to the same period last year. Despite all these adverse conditions, there has been no water shortage in Muğla due to the measures taken by the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sewerage Administration (MUSKİ) throughout the city.

Measures against drought have been increased

In Muğla, the impact of drought is keenly felt due to the decrease in dam levels compared to previous years and the significant reduction in underground water sources. However, additional measures are being taken by the MUSKİ General Directorate to prevent this from affecting citizens. Intensive efforts are being made to improve drinking water sources that are not included in the system and are lost before reaching the reservoirs. In the districts of Kavaklıdere, Milas, Menteşe, Ortaca, Marmaris, Datça, and Seydikemer, additional drinking water sources are found in areas where water shortages are anticipated, and work is being done on existing sources to ensure more efficient operation.

In addition to the work done on water sources, renovations of drinking water lines, pressure adjustments, the construction of additional drinking water lines, and the fight against losses and leaks are being carried out. Thus, apart from Bodrum, which has faced water shortages for years, there is no serious water shortage in any district. On the contrary, interruptions have completely disappeared in many different districts, especially in the central neighborhoods of Menteşe, which faced problems during the summer months.

Şengül: “We mobilized all our resources to prevent our citizens from being affected by drought”

MUSKİ General Manager Yılmaz Şengül, in statements regarding the issue, said that extraordinary drought is currently being experienced in Muğla, which was once one of the cities receiving the most rainfall in Turkey after Rize, but they are fighting with all their might to ensure that citizens are not affected by this disaster. Emphasizing that they have mobilized all their resources, Şengül stated, “As we are an institution that is in a position to produce solutions, not excuses, as our President Ahmet Aras constantly emphasizes. Therefore, although drought affects our city significantly, we will continue to take measures as long as our technical capabilities allow and will not let our citizens suffer. As you can see, there is still no rainfall, and our water sources are at critical levels. We are working with all our team members, without observing working hours, to operate scarce resources as efficiently as possible and provide uninterrupted water to citizens. Under the leadership of our President Ahmet Aras, we will lay the foundations for a Muğla with a stronger drinking water and wastewater infrastructure despite all the adversities,” he said.

Aras: “We will increase our drinking water investments, especially in Bodrum”

Muğla Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Aras emphasized that they have implemented many different projects as a measure against drought and that they have completed preparations for very important projects in Bodrum, which feels the water problem most closely. Aras stated that the future plan for water problems is ready. Aras said, “We do not see the issue of drinking water merely as a problem of today. We are addressing the problems of the entire city, especially Bodrum, with our short, medium, and long-term planning and producing solutions. Our new investments will be implemented very soon. We have taken significant steps regarding the renewal and improvement of drinking water lines in Bodrum and providing a substantial amount of additional drinking water to the Peninsula. We have already started the renewal works for faulty lines, and some of them have been completed. You will be able to follow these and even larger projects from the public very soon. We aim to plan the entire city with a holistic approach by presenting a vision for water management and providing uninterrupted water to everyone while valuing water. Our work is ongoing for this. However, the issue of water is not a simple matter that can be managed by a single institution, organization, or group. No matter how much investment we make, using water without understanding its value will diminish the value of these investments. Therefore, we must use every drop consciously and take care of every drop. Considering that this drought will increasingly worsen, we must be much more careful and dedicated in terms of water conservation,” he said.