Page 207 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

Since 2019, as a result of the studies carried out, consultations with municipalities and rele-
vant institutions, there has been a need to update the said By-law and the By-law Amending
the By-law on the Quality and Treatment of Water Supplying Drinking Water was published on
24/09/2021 and numbered 31608.
Communiqué on Technical Procedures for Drinking Water Treatment Plants: The purpose of
the communiqué published in the Official Gazette dated 07/03/2020 and numbered 31061 is to
regulate the design principles and norms of drinking water treatment plants to be constructed
for the treatment of water supplied from surface and underground water sources.

This Communiqué covers the technical procedures to be applied during the design and operati-
on of drinking water treatment plants.
Drinking Water Treatment Plant Project Approval Circular: The purpose of this circular dated
07/05/2020 and numbered 2020/1 is to ensure that the effluent of the drinking water treat-
ment plants will meet the drinking water standards specified in the By-law on Water Intended
for Human Consumption, and for the parameters not included in the By-law on Water Intended
for Human Consumption, to ensure the selection of the appropriate treatment project that will
bring the quality of the plant effluent to A1 class, which can be used as drinking and potable
water as specified in Annex 1 of the By-law on the Quality and Treatment of Water Supplied for
Drinking Water.

Communiqué on Technical Procedures of the By-law on Control of Water Losses in Drinking
Water Supply and Distribution Systems: Within the scope of the Official Gazette No. 31253 pub-
lished on 23 September 2020, the Communiqué on Technical Procedures of the By-law on Cont-
rol of Water Losses in Drinking Water Supply and Distribution Systems has been revised. Wit-
hin the scope of the said communiqué, the report format for projects related to drinking water
supply and distribution systems prepared by municipalities and the guideline on the necessary
measures for the control of water losses are presented.

Circular on Work Termination Plan for Reducing Water Losses in Drinking Water Systems: Wa-
ter losses of municipalities are monitored by the General Directorate of Water Management of
MoAF through annual reports. As a result of these reports, it is seen that the water loss rates of
most municipalities are currently not approaching the target rates and even the current situa-
tion determination for the purpose of reducing water losses and the necessary works to reach
the target are not planned. Accordingly, Circular No. 2021-47 entered into force in 2021 in order
to ensure that the necessary planning can be made by the relevant administrations in order to
reduce water loss rates to 25% and below (the lowest level that can be technically and econo-
mically reduced) and to ensure that this planning is committed. Within the scope of the Circular,
a Guideline on Actions to Reduce Water Losses in Drinking Water Systems was prepared for the
reduction of water losses.

Water Efficiency Strategy Document and Action Plan within the Framework of Adaptation to
a Changing Climate (2023-2033): Within the scope of the document published with the Presi-
dential Circular dated 4 May 2023 and numbered 2023/9, it is aimed to reduce water losses in
drinking water supply and distribution systems by 25% and individual water use to 120 litres/
person-day, to increase agricultural irrigation efficiency to 60% and to ensure water recovery up
to 50% in industrial activities by 2030. In this framework, the responsibilities of the relevant and
responsible institutions and the timetables for the realisations are determined and presented in
the sectoral action plans.
By-law on Water Pollution Control: Based on the 2872 numbered Environmental Law, the By-
law on Water Pollution Control (WPCR) published by the MoEUCC based on the Environmental

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