BASIN-SCALE WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROJECT
Project for the Monitoring of Water Quality in the Seyhan Basin and the Preparation of the River Basin Management Plan;
The opening meeting of the Basin-Scale Water Quality Monitoring Project, which we lead as Alka Laboratories, was held on 5 March 2024 within the scope of the Monitoring of Water Quality in the Seyhan Basin and Preparation of the River Basin Management Plan. It took place in Adana, which forms a significant part of the Seyhan Basin, chaired by Deputy Governor Mustafa Yiğit and hosted by the Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Mehmet Nuri Kökçüoğlu.
The General Director of Water Management, Ms Afire SEVER, emphasised the importance of the sustainability of water resources in terms of both quantity and quality. Noting that the latest data show our available water volume declining and that Türkiye is among the countries under water stress, she stated that the project being launched is of considerable importance for agriculture above all, as well as for industrial use and drinking water allocation. Stressing that environmental sustainability must be kept to the fore while ensuring the efficient use of water resources, she closed her remarks with the words: "If we do not show loyalty to water, we will be bidding it farewell."
Technical briefing presentations on the project were then delivered by Alka Laboratories' project consultants Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmet AYGÜN and Prof. Dr Fatma ÇEVİK
Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmet AYGÜN gave a briefing on the characterisation of the Seyhan River Basin, the preparation processes for River Basin Management Plans (RBMP), data collection and data systematics, field studies, chemical and hydromorphological monitoring work, and the progress of the project.
He noted that, unlike previously completed and ongoing projects, this is the first project in which the RBMP and monitoring work will be carried out together, and that the project outputs will serve as a guide for projects undertaken later.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmet AYGÜN concluded by stating that surveillance and protected area monitoring work is being carried out by Alka Laboratories in accordance with proper technique, that winter period sampling activities across all water bodies (including preservation and storage conditions) have been completed, and that laboratory analysis of the samples taken is continuing.
Prof. Dr Fatma ÇEVİK shared information on biological monitoring work and set out the importance of biological monitoring within river basin management plans. Explaining the biological monitoring methodology in detail, from sampling through to the determination of water quality, Prof. Dr Fatma ÇEVİK concluded by noting that the index calculations developed for Türkiye by the General Directorate of Water Management will be used in the assessment of biological monitoring work.
At the end of the meeting, following questions and comments, the Deputy General Director of Water Management, Mahir ÖZCAN, gave a general assessment of the opening meeting and emphasised the importance of the contribution of the stakeholders in the Seyhan River Basin to the process.