Ankara’s municipal government has confirmed that ongoing water rationing measures across the Turkish capital result from the most severe drought conditions witnessed in fifty years, compounded by rapid urban population growth. Reservoir levels supplying the city have plummeted to a critical 1.12 percent capacity, prompting authorities to implement scheduled water shut-offs across various districts daily.
The city’s water authority director, Memduh Akcay, provided alarming data showing water inflow to dams dropped dramatically to 182 million cubic meters in 2025, compared to historical averages of 400-600 million cubic meters. This represents the lowest precipitation levels recorded since modern measurements began.
Political tensions have emerged as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized opposition-led municipal authorities as “incompetent” in handling the crisis. City officials counter that climate change effects and Ankara’s population explosion—doubling since the 1990s to nearly six million residents—are primary factors overwhelming water infrastructure.
Akcay explained that reduced precipitation, irregular rainfall patterns, diminished snowfall, and rapid urban runoff due to construction have severely impaired dam replenishment capabilities. While emergency pumping systems have temporarily suspended cuts for the weekend, officials warn that sustainable solutions remain dependent on sufficient rainfall that has yet to materialize.
The crisis extends beyond Ankara, with Izmir—Turkey’s third-largest city—implementing daily water restrictions since summer 2025 amid a nationwide historic drought.