The advanced biological treatment plants, the foundations of which were laid in Balıkesir, will be opened next year within the framework of the action plan put into practice after the mucilage problem in the Marmara Sea two years ago.

18 strategic targets, 43 main activities and 130 sub-activities determined by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and coastal municipalities and governorates for the Marmara Sea, which has been declared a "special environmental protection area", are continuing. Within the scope of the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", the construction of advanced biological treatment plants that will serve 175 thousand people in Bandırma and 62 thousand people in Erdek, started by the Balıkesir Water and Sewerage Administration (BASKİ), continues.

22 percent of the facilities built with the support of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, as well as the European Union Support Project (IPA2), have been completed. 

Environmental problems on the Marmara coast will be prevented with the inauguration of the facilities, which include the infrastructure and sewerage plans of the districts, and which are planned to be completed in April next year.

“Water Shouldn't Manage You, You Must Manage Water”

In his statement to the AA reporter, BASKİ General Manager İzzet Günal said that Balıkesir has a coastline of 175 kilometers to the Aegean Sea and 115 kilometers to the Marmara Sea.

Emphasizing the importance of treatment plants, Günal said: "The advanced biological treatment plant in Bandırma has a capacity of approximately 25 thousand cubic meters, it will serve to 175,000 people per day. The facility in Erdek, on the other hand, has a capacity of 8,700 cubic meters and will serve 62 thousand people per day. Water shouldn't manage you, you must manage water. This is possible with the right financing, the right project and the right team, and we are at the point where we will come to a conclusion. Hopefully, the projects will be implemented by April of next year. 

“We Need to Protect the Environment”

Günal stated that the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant in city center of Balıkesir will also be increased.

Emphasizing that they produce electrical energy from solid wastes in the facilities, Günal concluded his words as follows: "We want to create a healthy environment that takes firm steps towards the future. Hopefully, with the realization of the projects, our city will make great gains in this regard. In other words, we need to protect the environment. If we do not do this, the environment takes its revenge on those who use it. We have seen this with an example of mucilage, we also see it with flood disasters, the problems we experience related to weather, climate change and drought. Let's take care of today so that our future generations can take care of tomorrow.”