The Middle East is experiencing one of its driest periods in recent years. Iran has begun cloud seeding operations as a last resort to increase rainfall. In our country, drinking water resources are sounding the alarm. Evaluating the water crisis experienced at both regional and national scales, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Adiller said, “The water crisis is not just an environmental problem; it has also gained a dimension that threatens public health, food security, and economic stability.”
Reminding that a person living in a big city directly consumes roughly 200 liters of water daily, and the same person's daily indirect water consumption can be over 4 thousand liters on average, Dr. Adiller added that more than 12 thousand liters of water are consumed in the production processes of a smartphone. Adiller noted that millions of liters of water can be saved annually by changing consumption habits.
Head of Environmental Health Program at Üsküdar University, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Adiller evaluated the water crisis experienced at both regional and national scales.
Water crisis is not just an environmental problem
Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated that water is one of the most fundamental needs and building blocks of all living beings, saying, “Increased temperatures, drought, and the irregular precipitation regime caused by climate change last summer, coupled with the rising water demand in those months, led to a severe water crisis in many regions of our country. This crisis is not just an environmental problem; it has also gained a dimension that threatens public health, food security, and economic stability. Especially the variable structure of water resources and population in our country leads to major water shortages in regions where water resources are scarce and the population is high.”
25% of the world's population does not have full access to safe and clean water
Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated that the decrease in drinking water, especially due to the decline in water quality and the easier proliferation of some disease-causing microorganisms, creates serious health risks. He added, “When sufficient and clean water is not provided, infectious diseases increase, hygiene conditions deteriorate, and the general health of society is negatively affected. Children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic diseases are particularly more severely affected by this process. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, 25% of the world's population, or one quarter, still does not have full access to safe and clean water today. This situation reveals that more than 1 million people die annually according to WHO data.”
A large portion of water consumption occurs in industry and agriculture
Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated that water scarcity is among the important needs in agricultural and industrial production, as well as in daily life. He said, “In our country and many countries around the world, a large portion of water consumption occurs in industry and agriculture. Water scarcity leads to a decrease in agricultural production and a reduction in product efficiency. This can cause food prices to rise, increase import dependency, and weaken food security. Water shortages in industry, on the other hand, directly negatively affect the economy by increasing production costs.”
More than 12,000 liters of water are consumed in the production processes of a smartphone
Pointing out that many countries, not only in our country but also in our region, are experiencing water shortages, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Adiller continued:
“Studies show that Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries are among those most affected by climate change. Therefore, our citizens have important duties not only in the summer months when water scarcity is at its highest level but throughout the year in terms of water conservation and economical use. These duties include reducing their direct daily water consumption as much as possible, as well as being aware that they indirectly consume water in every product they purchase. Today, the direct water consumption of a person living in a big city is roughly 200 liters per day. However, the average daily indirect water consumption of the same person can be over 4 thousand liters. For example, more than 12,000 liters of water are consumed in the production processes of a smartphone you purchase. From this perspective, changing consumption habits can lead to millions of liters of water savings per year. In addition to these daily water savings, turning to small but effective practices such as rainwater harvesting and supporting modern irrigation methods in agriculture are also critically important.”
Depletion of water resources creates irreversible damage in ecosystems
Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated that if effective measures are not taken against the water crisis, both environmental health and the economic structure throughout the country could be severely damaged. He added, “While the depletion of water resources creates irreversible damage in ecosystems; disruptions in agriculture and industry will bring many negative economic impacts, from unemployment to inflation.”
The depletion of water in some dams is a concrete indicator of the water crisis
Üsküdar University Environmental Health Program Head, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Adiller, also stated that the complete depletion of water in some dams can be considered a concrete indicator of the water crisis. He concluded by saying, “Infrastructure investments need to be accelerated in our provinces that are on the brink of drinking water resources, and the water needed by the public must be guaranteed. Municipalities, local governments, and non-governmental organizations need to take more effective steps in raising public awareness. Educational campaigns, promotion of saving methods, and community participation in water management processes are the most important parts of this process. The annual average water levels in many of our lakes, which periodically face drying up, have decreased by almost over 50%. Considering climate change, increasing population, and incorrect water policies, sustainable water management has now become a necessity, not a choice. If steps are not taken today, water scarcity will become a serious crisis not only regionally but nationwide.”
