'Water Brotherhood' protocol was signed between Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality and Ağrı Municipality in order to ensure the best management and efficiency of water. Thanks to the protocol, both municipalities will share their experiences.
Within the scope of Water Efficiency Mobilisation led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, spouse of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a "Water Brotherhood" protocol was signed between Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality and Ağrı Municipality. The Water Brotherhood Protocol is signed between municipalities that have reached the target values specified in the "Regulation on the Control of Water Losses in Drinking Water Supply and Distribution Systems" and "Communiqué on Technical Procedures" of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, have carried out important works on reducing water losses, have high technical knowledge, and municipalities with water loss rates above 40 per cent and are sensitive in terms of water resources.
WATER SHOULD BE MANAGED IN THE BEST WAY
Water Efficient Cities and Municipal Water Brotherhood Programme was held at the Ministry with the participation of Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı. Yücel Yılmaz, Union of Municipalities of Türkiye and Mayor of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality, delivered the opening speech of the programme where holistic, efficient and sustainable water management approach in cities was evaluated and emphasized that water is an issue that should be managed in the best way and efficiency should be ensured. Stating that the Water Brotherhood creates a ground to increase efficiency in water, to enable cities to share their experiences and to be more conscious, Mayor Yılmaz said, "We are establishing a brotherhood bond between municipalities under the auspices of Mrs Emine Erdoğan and under the leadership of Mr İbrahim Yumaklı, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. May the protocols we signed be beneficial for our cities."
10 THOUSAND 86 FACILITIES PUT INTO SERVICE
Delivering a speech at the programme, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that water is indispensable for the continuation of life, human welfare and economic development. Stating that the climate crisis necessitates that water management should be carried out more meticulously, Minister Yumaklı mentioned the works carried out by the Ministry on water efficiency and said: "In the last 21 years, we have put 10 thousand 86 facilities into service with an investment of 1 trillion 265 billion liras in the field of water. With these works, we have carried out important works for the efficient use of water."
SPONGE CITY MODEL WILL BE EXTENDED
Minister İbrahim Yumaklı reminded that they launched the Water Efficiency Mobilisation under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, the spouse of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and gave information about the work they have done so far and the legislative arrangements. Stating that they are planning to work with municipalities to reduce water losses, increase alternative water resources and expand the sponge city model, Yumaklı said that they aim to reduce water losses to 25 percent by 2033 and 10 percent by 2050.
