The project initiated by the General Directorate of Water Management of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs on September 20, 2012 with the aim of identifying water areas sensitive to water pollution, nitrate sensitive water areas and sensitive areas affecting these areas in surface waters and groundwater in 25 water basins in Turkey and determining water quality targets and measures to be taken to improve water quality is carried out by TÜBİTAK MAM.
It is necessary to identify sensitive areas within the scope of the "By-Law on Urban Wastewater Treatment" prepared on the basis of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which is a sub-directive of the Water Framework Directive, and to identify nitrate sensitive areas within the scope of the "By-Law on Protection of Waters against Nitrate Pollution from Agricultural Sources" prepared on the basis of the EU Nitrate Directive. In addition, in River Basin Management Plans, which are an output of the Water Framework Directive, water quality targets are set in sensitive areas and it is aimed to reach these values. Implementation of the project is of utmost importance in order to fulfill the requirements of the Water Framework Directive in our existing national regulations and in the EU harmonization process.
The workshop of the Project on Identification of Sensitive Areas and Water Quality Targets on Basin Basis in Turkey was held at TÜBİTAK MAM on 19-20 September 2013 with the participation of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs General Directorate of Water Management, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock General Directorate of Agricultural Reform, Provincial Bank and TÜBİTAK MAM METU expert staff. The opening speeches of the project meeting were delivered by Dr. Selma AYAZ, Deputy Director and Project Coordinator of TÜBİTAK MAM ÇTÜE and Dr. Yakup KARAASLAN, Deputy Director General of General Directorate of Water Management. At the project meeting, Dr. Selma Ayaz presented a summary of the progress made in the project within 1 year. In 25 basins, the methodology followed in determining water bodies and typologies was presented practically on GIS by Dr. Cihangir AYDÖNER. The model study for the identification of sensitive areas was presented by Assoc. Prof. Ali ERTÜRK for 25 basins. The other method applied in the identification of potential and sensitive areas was presented by Assoc. Elif Atasoy and the project team explained the other method applied in each basin specific to 25 basins. The nitrate measurements made within the scope of the project to identify nitrate sensitive areas carried out by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock were evaluated by project consultant Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür AKTAŞ and the general situation in 25 basins in terms of nitrate pollution was presented to the participants. In the project meeting, Prof. Dr. Meriç ALBAY, Prof. Dr. Nilsun DEMİR and Prof. Dr. Nilgün KAZANCI, who will carry out biological monitoring, shared their views on the project with the participants.
During the project workshop, ideas were exchanged and various decisions were taken for the implementation of the project at a later stage.
