Water Action Plan Launched in Antalya for Agriculture and Tourism

September 16, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

Institutions convened under the leadership of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry have initiated preparations for a comprehensive Water Action Plan to address drought risks and increasing water pressure.

Under the leadership of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATB), comprehensive studies have been launched to create the Antalya Water Action Plan, which will integrally address the city's water management for agriculture, tourism, industry, and urban use. The first of the Antalya Water Dialogue meetings was held under the theme 'Water Management in Agriculture and Water Management in Tourism.' Representatives from local administrations, Antalya Water and Wastewater Administration (ASAT), Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, and State Hydraulic Works participated, demonstrating a common will for agricultural sustainability.

During the meeting, ATB Chairman Ali Çandır stated that efficient use of water resources is imperative in this period of rapidly increasing climate change and drought risks. Ali Çandır emphasized water as the common denominator for agriculture and tourism with the following words:

Ali Çandır noted that merely preparing a plan would be insufficient and that concrete steps must be taken rapidly on the ground, drawing attention to the determined execution of the process:

ASAT General Manager Cengiz Gülebay announced that groundwater levels are continuously deepening and the city's drinking water is supplied from deep boreholes. According to ASAT data, 27 billion Turkish Liras have been invested in drinking water infrastructure over the last 6 years. The target is to reduce the current water loss and leakage rate, which stands at 34.57%, to 25%. This planning aims to achieve a net improvement of 9.57 percentage points in water loss within the network.

ASAT General Manager Cengiz Gülebay stated that the water from urban wastewater treatment plants holds vital potential for use in agricultural production. ASAT records show that approximately 750,000 cubic meters of treated water are discharged into the sea daily. The aim is to treat this water using advanced treatment techniques for agricultural use. It was reported that technical studies are proceeding without interruption to utilize the effluent water from the Hurma Wastewater Treatment Plant for agricultural irrigation.

Antalya Provincial Director of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, İsmail Öntaş, shared critical data regarding water consumption habits. According to the Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization data, while the average daily per capita water consumption in Turkey is around 150 liters, this amount exceeds 500 liters in 5-star accommodation facilities. The fact that per capita consumption in the tourism sector is 3.3 times higher than the average clearly highlights the urgency of water-saving practices.

Antalya Provincial Deputy Director of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Irmak, drew attention to the city's karst water structure, stating that 65 million cubic meters of water can be protected in the Kırkgöz springs. It was noted that salinity pressure is increasing in important greenhouse and open-field agricultural centers located along the coast, such as Demre, Kumluca, Finike, and Manavgat. The Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry announced that an Irrigation Water Salinity Risk Map has been prepared to protect plant production.

The second session of the Antalya Water Dialogue meetings will continue with the themes of urban and industrial water management. All technical data and stakeholder opinions obtained from these meetings will be consolidated into a final framework at the Antalya Water Summit to be held on September 23. The Antalya Water Action Plan to be prepared aims to ensure the city's agricultural production security by scheduling strategic steps such as modernization in irrigation, prevention of water loss and leakage, and reuse of wastewater.

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