Water Forum in Istanbul

Turkey this year will be hosting the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul, the largest ever, which will take place at the new Sutluce Conference Center and the Feshane on the Golden Horn. The first World Water Forum was held in Marakesh, Morocco in 1997, followed by the forums in Lahey, Holland, Kyoto, Japan and Mexico, which is repeated in different parts of the world every 3 years. The decision to hold the Forum in Turkey in 2009 was taken last year during a meeting in Izmir on June 27, 2008.

Over 20,000 participants, including over 100 government ministers and more than 20 heads of state are expected to attend the Forum, which is being sponsored by the State Hydraulics Works (DSI), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the World Water Council (WWC), the Istanbul Water and Sewarage Administration (ISKI), the Istanbul Metroplitan Municipality (IBB) and the Turkish Airlines.

According to the advance program details, therew will be many exhibitions and the main theme of the Forum will be ‘’Farkliliklarin Suda Yakinlasmasi – Differences to come Close’’ and will consist of six main topics and 23 headings covering all water-related subjects, including the developmet of large dams, some of which are being contested in Turkey. Among the many publications and declarations to be issued during the week long Forum will be ‘’Istanbul Water Concencus’’ to be signed by the Mayors from around the world and a prize, ‘’Turkish Republic Prime Miniser’s Water Prize’’, worth Euro 40,000 will also be awarded this year.

The ‘’water’’ civilisation in Turkey has a long history. Water has been used for irrigation in Anatolia since the early days of agricultural development hundreds of years ago. The first dam, the Karakuyu Sam, was built by the Hittites in 1,240 BC, more than 3,000 years ago, near Corum. One of the earliest dams built in Turkey was the Cubuk Dam near Ankara. Investigations and studies over the Firat (Euphrates) and the Dicle River Basins (Tigris) were started back in 1936 at Ataturk’s orders. This led to the establishment of the State Hydrauics Works in 1954, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year

The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP)

One of the Forum topics to be discussed is the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) and the government’s plan to complete the mega project which was started in 1978, almost 31 years ago.. One of the first large hydroelectric power plants built in the region was Keban HES between 1966 and 1974. Ebasco Services Inc, now part of the Washington Group in New Jersey, was the consulting firm responsible for the management of the project. Keban was not part of the GAP but many dams and hydoelecric power plants were built afterwards, including the world’s 3rd largest, the Ataturk HES. The advancement at GAP is estimated to be around 50 % When completed in perhaps another ten more years, there will be 19 hydroelectric power plans providing electricity to the Turkish grid and water for irrigantion purposes..

The ground breaking ceremony for another large project, the Ilısu Dam and HES on the Dicle River, under planning and study stage since the 1950s, took place three years ago, but due to many controversial issues, such as the loss of 12,000 year old historic town of Hasankeyf, the financing has not been finalized and therefore the construction has not been started yet, which is expecetd to draw hot discussions during the conference.

Yuksel Oktay, PE

Civil Engineer