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Istanbul Dams Drop to 46.73% Capacity Amid Summer Heat
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท Turkey /Environment & Climate

Istanbul Dams Drop to 46.73% Capacity Amid Summer Heat

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Istanbul's dam water levels have dropped to 46.73% as of August 23, 2026, down from 58.68% in mid-July.
  • The decline is attributed to high evaporation rates during summer heat and increased water consumption.
  • Several dams, particularly on the European side, are at critical levels, while ร–merli and Elmalฤฑ dams on the Anatolian side continue to supply most of the city's water.

Istanbul's water reserves are dwindling, with the average dam occupancy rate falling to 46.73% as of August 23, 2026, according to the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ฤฐSKฤฐ). This marks a significant decrease from the 58.68% recorded in mid-July, highlighting the impact of summer heat and heightened water usage.

The drop is largely due to increased evaporation and consumption during the hot summer months. While the ร–merli and Elmalฤฑ dams on the Anatolian side remain crucial for the city's supply, several reservoirs on the European side, including Istrancalar, Pabuรงdere, and Sazlฤฑdere, have reached critical low levels.

ฤฐSKฤฐ's detailed figures show varying levels across the city's water sources. ร–merli Dam stands at 66.54%, Darlฤฑk at 64.72%, and Elmalฤฑ at 76.23%. On the European side, Terkos Dam is at 40.33%, Alibey at 45.65%, and Bรผyรผkรงekmece at 33.03%. The situation is more concerning for Sazlฤฑdere (26.2%), Istrancalar (32.57%), Kazandere (19.93%), and Pabuรงdere (12.51%), indicating a pressing need for water conservation measures.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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