Improving the Turkish Water Infrastructure

Improving the water management cycle is one of several targets in the operative envi­ron­men­tal programme promoting regional development in Turkey. The European Union has provided the funds from the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for the programme. The fund supports economic and social development in potential EU membership candidates while raising infra­struc­ture quality to the EU standards in the respective country.

The programme includes optimising the water supply and wastewater system in seven Turkish munic­i­pal­i­ties in Central Anatolia and the Black Sea region. We began our part in the 5-year project by developing seven masterplans as a basis for seven feasibility studies, taking envi­ron­men­tal, legal and socioe­co­nomic factors alongside technical and financial aspects into account. From there, we drew up the corre­spond­ing EU funding appli­ca­tions and concept planning for water supply and wastewater networks as well as wastewater treatment plants.

The seven masterplans are currently in the implementation phase. We are responsible for water and wastewater system construction tenders encompassing reservoirs, pumping stations, networks and wastewater treatment plants. We are also in charge of tenders for supply contracts for procuring the water suppliers’ tools and equipment. Our activities are based on the Yellow & Red Book developed by FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, as standardised model contracts for international construction projects.

The municipalities involved are not located next to one another but scattered throughout the north and centre of the country, which poses a particular challenge. Around 1 million people will be benefitting from the improved water situation in the future.