Ankara Grapples with Over 100 Days of Water Shortages, Blame on Infrastructure Neglect and Soaring Prices
Ankara, January 12 – The Turkish capital, Ankara, has been experiencing prolonged water shortages for more than 100 days, leading to widespread criticism of Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş. Critics allege that the mayor has failed to adequately invest in the city’s water infrastructure since 2019, exacerbating the crisis.
According to reports from the Court of Accounts and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the water network’s loss-and-leakage rate has reached an alarming 37%. This significant wastage is attributed to the lack of systematic renewal of asbestos and steel pipes, resulting in the loss of 65 million cubic meters of water-an amount equivalent to Ankara’s 53-day potable water supply. Compounding the issue, the price of water per cubic meter has skyrocketed from approximately 5 Turkish Liras in 2019 to 156 Turkish Liras in 2025, marking an astounding 3024% increase and intensifying public discontent.
Infrastructure Neglect and Escalating Water Prices Fuel Crisis
The ongoing water cuts in Ankara have evolved into a major crisis, primarily due to perceived infrastructure neglect during Mansur Yavaş’s tenure and the dramatic increase in water tariffs. The 37% loss-and-leakage rate in the potable water network significantly exceeds the statutory limit of 25%. Had this rate been reduced to the legal threshold, 65 million cubic meters of water, sufficient to meet the city’s 53-day demand, could have been preserved in the dams. Both the Court of Accounts and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reports highlight the failure to systematically replace asbestos and steel pipes as the primary cause of these losses.
Water Cuts Exceed 100 Days
The water shortages in the capital commenced on September 29, 2025, following a malfunction in the Kesikköprü Potable Water Main Transmission Line. Subsequently, the city implemented “rotational cuts” and “pressure reduction” measures. While the 100-day period of disruption was occasionally interrupted by announcements of repairs and a return to normalcy, complaints resurfaced and intensified with the onset of winter. The Ankara Water and Sewerage Administration (ASKİ)’s varying justifications for the outages, citing malfunctions, maneuvers, elevation differences, population density, and dam levels, have failed to alleviate public concerns.
DSİ: Responsibility Lies with ASKİ
The State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) has emphasized that, in accordance with the Metropolitan Municipality Law, the responsibility for delivering water from its source to the end-user rests with ASKİ. According to DSİ, all measures to reduce loss and leakage are the primary duty of the municipality. DSİ data reveals that as of January 2026, the active occupancy rate of Ankara’s potable water dams has plummeted to 4.7%, a stark contrast to 22.7% during the same period last year. While the active volume of the dams is stated as 69 million cubic meters and the city’s daily potable water requirement is approximately 1.24 million cubic meters, DSİ reports indicate that the total water volume in Ankara’s dams, including dead volume, is 294 million cubic meters, suggesting a 237-day supply “if only the dams are considered.” However, for water in the dead volume to be supplied to the city, ASKİ needs to install pumping systems. ASKİ only initiated efforts to install floating pump systems at the Çamlıdere Dam in December.
Water Prices Soar by 3024%
Amidst the persistent infrastructure problems, the dramatic increase in water prices has drawn considerable attention. In Ankara, the price of water per cubic meter, which was approximately 5 Turkish Liras in 2019, surged to an average of 156 Turkish Liras for residential use in 2025. This represents an approximate 3024% increase over six years.
Mayor Yavaş Blames Shopping Malls
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, previously criticized for stating that traffic problems cannot be solved by building roads, has now shifted blame to shopping malls for the city’s traffic congestion. Speaking at the General Assembly of the Ankara General Chamber of Automobile and Driver Tradesmen, Yavaş stated, “Most of the biggest traffic congestion in Ankara is always in front of shopping malls. Therefore, while planning the city, we are not saying ‘don’t build shopping malls,’ but if you count the traffic passing through there, multi-story buildings built there do nothing but jam the traffic.” Yavaş also pledged to resolve traffic issues by acquiring electric buses and reintroducing preferential lanes at certain times, a decision he plans to put to a public referendum.
Water Management Criticized
Court of Accounts reports have highlighted irregularities in water tariff determination, noting that some expenses were illegally reflected in bills and that wastewater and stormwater costs were not separated. Furthermore, deficiencies in industrial wastewater inspections were identified, with businesses not being audited in a timely manner. These findings suggest that the failure to reduce existing infrastructure losses is deepening the problem, even as the search for new water sources continues. The report also pointed out that ASKİ has 27 senior management positions, including the general manager, and that some department heads not included in the organizational structure were appointed in violation of regulations.
Minister Yumaklı Responds to Criticism
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı responded to criticisms from CHP leader Özgür Özel, who, during a Denizli rally, implied that President Erdoğan wished for Ankara to remain waterless and criticized the DSİ. Minister Yumaklı stated, “Mr. Özgür Özel; there is no dam built or commissioned by Mansur Yavaş. There is an Ankara Metropolitan Municipality that cannot manage to deliver the water provided by DSİ from dams and wells to our citizens’ taps.” Yumaklı further asserted via social media that, “You have lost more than one-third of the water delivered to you by DSİ from dams and wells before it even reaches the tap.” He urged the municipality to “Stop victimizing our people with thirst, traffic, garbage, mud, and potholes. If you can’t do it, say so clearly so we know. We will do what is necessary and not let our citizens suffer.”
Source: yenisafak.com
