Bursa contributes to this project as a case study with a track record of positive engagement from the Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesi municipality, in challenging political environments.
Population: 3.2 million
Main water issues: Severe drought, Climate change, Industrial discharge (automotive industry), Agricultural collapse possible
The water management is metropolitan, with centralised systems.
Bursa, Türkiye is an urban region which experiences severe drought, with its primary reservoirs at critically low levels. As of late 2024, the city had only 40 days’ worth of water left, and its main dam (Nilüfer Dam) was completely dry (Akbas, 2025, Arslan, 2024).
The region is highly vulnerable to climate change. Multiple climate models predict significant decreases and variability in annual and
seasonal precipitation for Bursa, with the most robust declining trends under pessimistic scenarios (Yetik and Candoğan, 2024). The region is expected to become progressively drier, increasing the risk of desertification (Saygi, 2022, Yetik and Candoğan, 2024).
Furthermore, The Nilüfer Stream, which traverses Bursa and irrigates much of its agricultural land, is now classified as “chemical waste” due to decades of untreated industrial discharge. Water quality has deteriorated to the point that it is unusable for irrigation or human consumption, with heavy metals and toxic substances contaminating both surface and groundwater (bianet.org, 2022, bianet.org, 2021).
In terms of agriculture and public health risks, the pollution of the Nilüfer Stream, coupled with erratic rainfall and drought, threatens
food security, soil fertility, and public health. Local experts warn of declining crop yields, contaminated produce, and the collapse of the region’s agricultural base (Arslan, 2024, bianet.org, 2022).
Partners leading the living lab in Bursa: Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesi municipality, and Bursa Teknik Üniversitesi (BTU).
Email: turkey@aquasavvy.eu
Leave a Reply