Helping a country mitigate the risks of climate change

Used Water Reuse Assessments and Pilot Projects

Climate change is a major concern for Türkiye, and to proactively address the pending effects of a changing climate and population growth—such as drought conditions and water shortages—a more accurate and planned approach to water resources management was needed. The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry contracted our team to provide technical assistance for the assessment of potential reuse alternatives of used water in Türkiye.

As part of the project, we characterized and identified used water potential, determined areas in which used water can be reused, identified reuse criteria and treatment processes for used water, and prepared preliminary feasibility studies and draft action plans. The team also put together a technical aspect guiding document and carried out cost analyses.

In three selected pilot provinces, pre-implementation projects were designed for the reuse of used water, and the produced information was transferred to the geographical information system (GIS) and integrated into the National Water Information System. The project also included training, workshops, and awareness campaigns.

The reuse alternatives proposed under the project were put forward after evaluating all the alternatives, considering the expected long-term water shortages. The aim? Come up with the most appropriate, effective, and feasible solutions. A significant step had been taken—with all stakeholders interacting with the proposed solutions to establish Türkiye's reuse strategy.