Izmir Tackles Drought with Gray Water Recycling Initiative

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality is launching a significant environmental initiative to conserve dwindling water resources and combat drought by implementing gray water recycling projects. The municipality aims to increase water efficiency by reusing wastewater from showers and sinks. Following technical assessments at municipal facilities, the project has begun implementation at designated sites.

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With the inclusion of gray water into the system, we will be able to meet the entire water demand for bus washing at the Buca Gediz Workshop and Garage with recovered water. This will completely eliminate the use of mains water for washing buses.

One of the initial applications is at the ESHOT General Directorate's Buca Gediz Workshop and Garage. Serdar Tüccar, Head of Energy and Environment Management at ESHOT, stated that the facility generates approximately 10 tons of gray water daily. This water is treated and made available for reuse. Currently, 80% of the water used for washing buses is recovered. "With the inclusion of gray water into the system, we will be able to meet the entire water demand for bus washing at the Buca Gediz Workshop and Garage with recovered water," Tüccar said. "This will completely eliminate the use of mains water for washing buses."

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We are taking a significant step in the fight against drought. By recovering 10 tons of gray water daily for reuse, we will contribute to both the protection of water resources and environmental sustainability.

Tüccar emphasized that the project offers more than just water savings. "We are taking a significant step in the fight against drought. By recovering 10 tons of gray water daily for reuse, we will contribute to both the protection of water resources and environmental sustainability," he stated.

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We have completed the project design work at the determined points based on our analyses. We have now reached the stage of activating our gray water facilities within the municipality.

Yiğit Beydağ, Head of Climate Change and Clean Energy at the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality's Climate Change and Zero Waste Department, reported that the Gray Water Mission Team, established under the directive of Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, has reached a crucial stage. "We have completed the project design work at the determined points based on our analyses. We have now reached the stage of activating our gray water facilities within the municipality," Beydağ explained. He noted that gray water, excluding wastewater from toilets, originates from sinks, showers, and bathtubs. Due to its lower pollutant load, treating gray water is easier. Beydağ highlighted that gray water constitutes about half of an individual's daily water consumption, and recovering it can reduce mains water usage by approximately 50%, leading to significant savings in both consumption and costs.

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This [recovering gray water] can reduce mains water usage by approximately 50%. This will lead to significant savings in both water consumption and water costs.