Water Efficiency Strategy Document and Action Plan

Water Efficiency Strategy Document and Action Plan Prepared within the framework of adaptation to climate change to ensure sustainable prosperity and protect healthy living standards, the Water Efficiency Strategy Document and Action Plan serves as a guide for all stakeholders in protecting water resources. Climate change adaptation framework, the Water Efficiency Strategy Document and Action Plan (2023-2033), prepared to ensure sustainable prosperity and protect healthy and quality living standards and serving as a guide for all stakeholders in protecting water resources, has been implemented.

Action plans prepared for water efficiency and protection of the Gediz Basin

The Presidential Circular on the Water Efficiency Strategy Document and Action Plan (2023-2033), which was prepared under the National Water Efficiency Mobilization and serves as a roadmap for water efficiency for all sectors and stakeholders operating in Turkey, was published in the Official Gazette. According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, active participation of stakeholders and inclusivity were prioritized in the planning process. In the document prepared, water efficiency targets, strategies and actions were defined around 4 main pillars: "Urban Water Use Efficiency", "Agricultural Water Use Efficiency", "Industrial Water Use Efficiency" and "Water Use Efficiency Affecting All Sectors". The document prepared contains 4 fundamental objectives, 9 national targets and 49 priority actions. The action plans prepared as components of the document contain measures to be implemented during the period covering 2023-2033. In the strategy document, improvement of urban, agricultural and industrial water use efficiency and promotion of alternative water sources (reuse of wastewater, greywater use, rainwater harvesting), reduction of water footprint, appropriate pricing of water, development of institutional capacity, cooperation, education and awareness activities are among the highlighted topics.

The priority targets in the document are as follows:

- By reducing water loss rates in all municipalities to 25% by 2033 and 10% by 2040 through increased water efficiency in local administrations, - By reducing average daily per capita water consumption to 120 litres by 2030 and 100 litres by 2050 through improved efficiency in household and individual water use, - By promoting practices that increase agricultural water use efficiency, raising irrigation efficiency to 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2050, - Achieving water savings at rates up to 50% through implementation of clean production techniques and water efficiency measures in industry.   In the document prepared, institutions and organizations that will be held responsible and will cooperate for efficient water use across all sectors and by all stakeholders for the coming century have been identified. Additionally, the document includes national targets on water efficiency and necessary actions to achieve those targets, water-efficient use methods, promotion of alternative non-conventional water sources, reuse of wastewater, rainwater harvesting, use of greywater, recovery, pricing of water in a manner that will encourage appropriate and efficient use, raising awareness on water footprint and bringing the footprint to sustainable levels, capacity development in legal, administrative and technical terms, education, awareness, collective reasoning and cooperation activities.   Source