Page 3 - Zero Waste - September 2025

ZERO
WASTE NEWS 3

The Jewel of the World
MEKE LAKE

IS RETURNING TO LIFE

Located in the Karapınar district of 2.5 Million Cubic Meters
Konya and often described as the
“jewel of the world,” Meke Lake had of Water to Be Treated
been facing the threat of extinction Annually
due to climate change, drought,
and unsustainable water use. The Mi- Providing information about the
nistry of Environment, Urbanization, two-stage facility, İLBANK Konya
and Climate Change has been wor- Regional Manager Sedat Yılmaz
king to preserve this natural wonder stated:
since 2020, guided by scientific stu-
dies and expert recommendations. "Taking into account the region's
development, population growth,
As part of these efforts, the first phase industrial expansion, and similar
of the Karapınar Advanced Biological factors, the first stage of the facility
Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is planned for 2033, with the second
began construction in 2021, has now stage scheduled for 2048. According
been completed. Upon completion to the project design, the plant has
of the plant’s second phase, which a daily treatment capacity of 7,000
will treat the city’s wastewater, it will cubic meters, which corresponds
breathe new life into Lake Meke and to 2.5 million cubic meters treated
its surrounding ecosystem. During annually. Currently, the facility
the first phase, treated wastewater was receives approximately 4,500 cubic
further purified using advanced bio- meters of water per day. In the
logical treatment systems. Once the second phase, advanced biological
8.5-kilometer transmission line, cur- treatment will be implemented to
rently under construction, is finished, remove nitrogen and phosphorus
it will deliver the treated water directly nutrients, and discharge standards
from the plant to Lake Meke. specified in the Urban Wastewater
Treatment Regulation for sensitive
“Lake Meke Will Regain areas will be applied."
Its Former Beauty”

Minister of Environment, Urbanizati-
on, and Climate Change Murat Kurum Four Different
shared images of the facility and Lake Protection
Meke in Konya on his social media
account. Minister Kurum stated: Statuses

"Our lucky charm, Lake Meke, is Meke Lake, a crater lake
receiving its lifeblood once again. formed approximately 5
We have completed the first phase of million years ago due to
the Karapınar Advanced Biological a volcanic eruption, has
Wastewater Treatment Plant, built to been protected by the Mi-
restore Lake Meke, which has been nistry as a “natural site”
affected by drought due to climate since 1989. In 1998, it was
change, and we are rapidly progres- declared a “natural mo-
sing with the second phase. With nument.” Meke Lake was
this facility, Lake Meke will regain its also designated a Ramsar
former beauty, displaying its charac- site in 2005, and in 2022,
teristic blue and green hues, and we it was declared a “strictly
will treat 2.5 million cubic meters of protected sensitive area.”
water annually."

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