Water management and water use strategies in Turkey

Abstract

Water is a renewable but limited natural resource. Each drop should effectively be used to meet the water and food demands of ever-increasing populations. Agriculture is the largest water-consuming sector and the main target is to provide efficient water use and reduce the amount of water use in agriculture. Environmental impacts on water resources and everincreasing water demands of domestic, industrial and agricultural sectors have made the water management a complex and a difficult issue. Therefore, water-saving modern irrigation technologies should be used, waste water should be re-used, deficit irrigations and water-harvesting practices should be implemented to provide efficient water use and water saving. In the present study, water management and water use strategies of Turkey were discussed along with the accession process of Turkey to European Union and recommendation were provided for effective water management and use.