In our country, experiencing some of the hottest days in recent years, repeated warnings are being issued regarding water conservation, especially in large cities like Istanbul. Dr. Lecturer Ahmet Adiller states that the record-breaking increase in water consumption is alarming, emphasizing that individual savings are crucial in conserving a very large amount of water. Adiller underlines that the amount of water used at home, at work, and in the garden can be reduced through various methods, warning that otherwise, current generations will witness drought in different dimensions before it affects future generations.
Dr. Lecturer Ahmet Adiller, Environmental Health Specialist at Üsküdar Üniversitesi SHMYO, addressed the importance of individual water saving in the face of the nationwide water problem and explained what can be done to achieve water savings.
Water problem is alarming
Environmental Health Specialist Dr. Lecturer Ahmet Adiller stated that during this period, as we experience one of the hottest summers in recent years, drought is one of the first problems that comes to mind, and said, "Every summer, this problem arises in our major cities, especially Istanbul. This year, it is showing its effects more dangerously due to precipitation levels remaining lower in winter and spring compared to previous years. We see that the dam occupancy rates in our densely populated cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir have fallen below 40 percent. Meanwhile, we are receiving two record-breaking news reports from İSKİ with a 12-day interval. Water consumption, which reached an all-time high on July 14, climbed to an even higher level on July 26. Similar situations are, of course, being experienced in different cities. This situation is quite alarming."
Individual savings help conserve very large amounts of water
Adiller pointed out that, contrary to popular belief, our country is not water-rich, and warned, "We are making steady progress towards becoming water-poor. Although we may not experience a large-scale drought this year, in the coming years, the problem of water scarcity, driven by rising temperatures and population, could make things difficult for us. At this point, in addition to the measures authorities will take, we, as citizens, also have a duty. Even a few liters of individual savings, when considered holistically, help us conserve a very large amount of our water."
Millions of cubic meters of water can be saved in 1 day
Adiller reiterated that even small changes in daily life can have significant impacts, and said, "Let's consider the simplest water-saving method known to everyone for years: the habit of 'turning off the tap while brushing teeth.' A normal tap discharges between 10-15 liters of water per minute. If we assume a brushing time of 1 minute, a person brushing their teeth twice a day wastes between 20 to 30 liters of water daily if they leave the tap running. In a family of four, this amount is 80-100 liters, and considering a quarter of the country's population, it reaches levels of 400,000 to 600,000 cubic meters. When other areas where savings can be made are added to this amount, we see that it is possible to save millions of cubic meters of water nationwide in a single day."
Savings can be achieved at home with various easily applicable methods
Environmental Health Specialist Dr. Lecturer Ahmet Adiller, discussing various saving methods on how we can reduce the amount of water we use in our homes, workplaces, and even gardens, continued:
"While cooking at home, when washing vegetables and fruits, washing them in a basin instead of under a running tap will significantly reduce the amount of water you consume. You can also use the washing water to water your flowers. Undoubtedly, bathrooms and toilets are among the places where the most water is used at home. Shortening the time spent in the shower, turning off the tap when water is not directly needed during bathing, and placing a full plastic bottle inside toilet cisterns according to their capacity are among the easily applicable measures. Laundry and dishwashing also cause a lot of water usage in homes. Today, the use of washing machines and dishwashers provides significant water savings. However, there are also measures that can be taken to increase these savings. Regarding laundry, one of the most important points to consider is not running the washing machine or dishwasher for only a small load of laundry or dishes. Furthermore, for laundry or dishes that are not heavily soiled, short programs can be preferred. Washing with short programs also saves electricity in addition to water."
For garden savings, frequent and light watering should be preferred over excessive watering in a short time
Adiller emphasized that significant water savings can be achieved in the garden, just as inside the house, and advised, "Choosing plants for our garden that are compatible with the climatic conditions of our region and do not require high water is the first important point. Subsequently, irrigation conditions are of great importance. One of the most common wrong practices during garden irrigation is watering with a large amount of water in a short time. When a large amount of water is used in a short period, the excess water beyond the plant's needs goes to the lower layers of the soil where plant roots cannot reach. Therefore, it is more appropriate to water gardens more frequently with smaller amounts of water. Furthermore, irrigating in the early morning or late evening hours will reduce the amount of water that evaporates due to sun exposure during irrigation. In addition to these measures, the use of drip irrigation systems can also be considered another saving method to be implemented, as they consume less water than traditional irrigation methods."
Water saving should be prioritized for a sustainable life
Dr. Lecturer Ahmet Adiller pointed out that the efficiency of water-using devices in homes is also very important for water conservation, and said, "As we know, with the development of technology, many devices are being developed daily that consume less energy and do more work in terms of energy efficiency. This situation is similar in water usage. Today's washing machines and dishwashers compete with each other not only in their superior features but also in their frugality regarding water consumption. This saving race is not limited to just these devices. A large portion of the taps we use today also focus on delivering less water and creating more savings. This saving is not only valid for newly purchased taps. Today, a small attachment you can place on your old-style tap offers you the opportunity to achieve the same performance while consuming less water."
Determination is important for a sustainable life…
Dr. Adiller concluded his remarks as follows:
"At this point, our duty is to choose products that prioritize water conservation to protect our water, one of our most important natural resources. Although changing our habits is difficult, we need to be determined for a sustainable life. Otherwise, our current generations will witness drought in different dimensions before it reaches future generations."