Water supply

Water levels in the dams supplying Istanbul have reached 79.4 percent thanks to recent rainfall.

Data from the Istanbul Water and Sewage Administration (İSKİ) showed that water level in Istanbul dams were at 24 percent on Jan. 11, when the city's water supplies were at alarmingly low levels, but increased by almost three times in three-and-half months.

A rainwater collection system will be installed in new buildings in Turkey as the country faces water shortages after recording several years of rainfalls below seasonal averages.

A 3,500-year-old aqueduct in the ancient city of Troy in the northwestern province of Çanakkale is undergoing a restoration process.

With Turkey facing severe drought conditions, dams in several major cities in the country are drying up at an alarming rate, widely affecting daily life and agriculture, officials and experts have warned.

Drinking water in the southern Bulgarian town of Lyubimets is not safe for human consumption due to an increased arsenic content found in it. The problem affects about 8,000 people who as of today are unable to use the tap water for drinking and cooking, although it will not be stopped so that it can be used for all other needs.

One worker suffered more severe injuries and the other minor injuries. Both were immediately hospitalized.
The director of the Water Factory, Bojan Dimki, told the Beta agency that the inspection was on the ground and that an investigation was underway, and that he would soon provide more information.

Minister of Environment Emil Dimitrov came to the Parliament surprisingly to warn lawmakers about the poor condition of the dams in Bulgaria. He stated that Burgas is facing a serious water crisis, which in 6 months will be a fact and in the coastal city and the situation will be similar to that in Pernik, the town facing persistent water-supply crisis.

Athens water utility EYDAP has been ordered not to cut off supply to indebted consumers following scenes of crowding outside its downtown regional headquarters.

Huge investments are yet to be made in the water supply systems in Bulgaria and it is extremely important that these funds be used efficiently and effectively. Before spending them in a piecemeal fashion, we should draw on other countries' good practices and experience. This is what President Rumen Radev told journalists after visiting the company that manages the water resources of Jerusalem.

Bulgaria's Minister of Environment and Water, Neno Dimov, on January 10 was accused of deliberate mismanagement. He remains in custody for 72 hours. The Prosecutor's Office will seek for remand.