A regional kick-off meeting was held on February 11, 2016 in Şanlıurfa for the "Project on Control of Irrigation Return Waters in the GAP Region and Investigation of Improvement for Reuse" in partnership with the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs (MoFWA) General Directorate of Water Management and TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Cleaner Production Institute (ÇTÜE).
With this project, it is aimed to investigate the quality of drainage irrigation waters and the pollutants contained in them in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Region and to develop appropriate methods to improve the quality of drainage waters returning from irrigation and to reuse them in irrigation.
TÜBİTAK MAM ÇTÜE Director Dr. Selma Ayaz and researchers attended the project opening meeting, which was also attended by representatives of OSİB, Harran University, Dicle University, General Directorate of DSI, DSI Regional Directorates, GAP Regional Development Administration, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Development Agencies.
The meeting started with the opening speeches of Oğuz Kasap, Director of DSİ 15th Regional Directorate, Dr. Selma Ayaz, Director of TÜBİTAK MAM ÇTÜE, Prof. Dr. Cumali Kınacı, Director General of Water Management of OSİB and Ahmet Yıldız, Deputy Governor of Şanlıurfa.
Project Coordinator Dr. Burcu Kıran, one of the TÜBİTAK MAM researchers, made a presentation about the project and explained the work packages in detail. Subsequently, presentations were made by Prof. Dr. Sinan Uyanık, Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hakkı Aydoğdu, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şimşek and Prof. Dr. M. İrfan Yeşilnacar from Harran University and Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Necati Kayaalp from Dicle University on the studies planned to be carried out in the project. In addition, the participants made a field visit to the Harran Plain and received on-site information about the drainage channels and regulators in the plain from the DSİ 15th Regional Directorate.
Efficient use of water depends on properly planned and constructed irrigation and drainage systems as well as optimal water management. Considering that a large portion of the 44 billion m3 of water resources used in our country, % 72, is used in irrigation and approximately % 80 of irrigation systems consist of surface irrigation systems, the importance of water management in agricultural irrigation and drainage is clearly seen. In addition, considering the increase in dry periods in our country and the need to use water economically, it is a necessity to improve the quality of drainage waters returned from irrigation and reuse them in irrigation. Agricultural drainage is considered as an integral part of irrigation in irrigated agriculture practices. However, the quality of drainage water poses a significant risk for the receiving environment to which it is discharged. Due to the pollutants it contains, it needs to be improved before it is discharged to the receiving environment or reused in irrigation if its quality is appropriate. Drainage waters returning from irrigation may contain pollutants such as pesticides, toxic trace elements, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), sediment, bacteria, temperature, sulfur compounds and salinity.
The GAP region has rich soil and water resources. Of the 8.5 million ha of economically irrigable land in Turkey, 1.8 million ha (% 21) is in this region. The average water potential of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers within the borders of Turkey is 52.9 billion m3 per year, accounting for % 28 of the country's total potential. The surface area of the region is 75,308 km2, which constitutes % 9.7 of Turkey's surface area. With this project, the quality of drainage irrigation waters in the GAP Region and the pollutants they contain will be determined. Appropriate methods will be developed to improve the quality of drainage waters returning from irrigation and reuse them for irrigation.
The work was also echoed in the local press.
http://m.sanliurfa.com/suyun-korunmasi-icin-17-mevzuat-hazirlandi/1671532403/
http://www.gapgundemi.com/yazar-1114-aklimiz_sonradan_basimiza_gelir.html
