At the national level, ITU serves as the working base of the Turkish National Committee on Water Pollution Research and Control (SKATMK), established in 1990 under the International Water Association (IWA) framework. This committee supports research on water pollution control, represents Türkiye in international water networks, and fosters cooperation between global and national partners in sustainable water quality management.

In collaboration with the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), ITU researchers prepared the report “Climate Change and Water Management: Industrial Sector Report,” coordinated by Prof. Dr. İzzet Öztürk, revealing Türkiye’s water stress projections and highlighting the need for efficient water use across all sectors. The study also provides a roadmap for climate-resilient water and wastewater management, promoting water efficiency and recycling practices for industry and municipalities.

ITU’s leadership in water management has been nationally recognized: the University received the 1st Türkiye Water Management Award from the General Directorate of Water Management (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) for its contributions to preventing water waste and promoting sustainable water practices.

At the community level, ITU regularly hosts World Water Day events, such as the “Water for Peace” conference, co-organized with the General Directorate of Water Management, the Climate Change Presidency, and the Economy Journalists Association (EGD). These events raise public awareness about the vital role of water in sustainable development and peacebuilding.

ITU also contributes to policy development and capacity building through partnerships with the Turkish Water Institute (SUEN), where several ITU academics, including Prof. Dr. Bülent İnanç, play leading roles. Together with international partners such as the Japan Water Forum, Asian Development Bank Institute, and Blue Peace Middle East, ITU has co-authored global reports and delivered training on desalination, wastewater reuse, and membrane technologies for experts from OIC member countries.

Furthermore, ITU collaborates with İSKİ (Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration) in research and applied projects such as the “Wastewater Management Standardization Project,” which focuses on advanced biological wastewater treatment modeling and sustainable infrastructure design.

Through its campus-level initiatives—including rainwater harvesting systems, smart irrigation, and water recycling practices—and its national and international water governance collaborations, ITU demonstrates a comprehensive institutional commitment to conscious water usage, education, and sustainable water policy leadership.

Turkish National Committee on Water Pollution Research and Control

ITU announced its “Climate Change and Water Management: Industry Sector Report” prepared in collaboration with its expert academics.

ITU won the “1st Turkey Water Management Award” organized by the General Directorate of Water Management under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to prevent water waste in our country.

The “World Water Day Meeting” organized by the General Directorate of Water Management, the Climate Change Presidency, and the Association of Economic Journalists (EGD), was held at our Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center.

In collaboration with ITU and SUEN, an online training course on “Membrane Technologies in Desalination and Wastewater Recovery” was held on July 31-August 1, 2024, for experts and managers from institutions responsible for water and wastewater in the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Blue Peace

Water Forum

ITU SUPPORTS WATER CONSERVATION OFF CAMPUS

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) implements a comprehensive Water Management Program to ensure sustainable water use, prevent pollution, and promote efficiency in all campus operations. The university’s strategy focuses on monitoring, infrastructure improvement, pollution prevention, and sustainable building design in line with international environmental standards and its institutional Climate Action Plan.

Water Measurement and Reuse Systems

●       ITU continuously monitors its water consumption through a centralized Water Management Directive.

●       Stormwater and wastewater systems are kept separate to prevent contamination.

●       The campus operates a membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment plant, allowing treated water to be reused for irrigation and cleaning.

●       Pilot systems for rainwater and greywater collection have been tested to evaluate reuse potential. Read more → Water Measure in ITU

Preventing Water Pollution

●       ITU ensures that no polluted water enters natural water systems by maintaining separate sewage and drainage networks.

●       Campus wastewater is treated at the İSKİ Baltalimanı Wastewater Treatment Plant and pilot ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis systems are used for advanced water reuse.

●       New infrastructure projects integrate design requirements to prevent discharge of pollutants and contaminated runoff. Read more → Preventing Water Pollution

Sustainable Building Standards at ITU

●       All new ITU buildings follow LEED® green-building standards to ensure high water and energy efficiency.

●       Water-efficient fixtures and smart systems are installed (around half of flushers upgraded).

●       Rainwater harvesting and greywater systems are integrated into modern building designs.

●       The Water Management Directive and Climate Action Plan guide all building operations for long-term sustainability.  🔗 Read more → Building Standards at ITU

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) supports water conservation off campus by actively engaging with external stakeholders—industry, government and community—to promote efficient water usage, wastewater reuse and sustainable water-management practices. Drawing upon examples of global best practice, ITU collaborates with the Turkish business sector and regulatory bodies to implement water-efficient technologies, publishes formal sustainability reports aligned with UN SDG 6 (“Clean Water and Sanitation”), and shares its expertise in water-conservation strategies beyond the campus context.

ITU and ZERO WASTE COLLABORATION for Water Conservation off Campus

Under the banner of the “Zero Waste Blue” initiative, ITU has partnered with the Zero Waste Foundation to advance water-conservation efforts beyond campus boundaries. The collaboration includes participation in international forums and advocacy events such as the “Zero Waste Blue – Drop by Drop” exhibition in New York, which showcased Turkey’s water-protection projects and raised global awareness about marine and freshwater conservation. Through this partnership, ITU contributes academic expertise, research outreach and stakeholder engagement to complement the Foundation’s national campaign, thereby supporting wider community and watershed-scale water-use efficiency and pollution prevention.

Zero Waste Foundation

“Southern Group Sustainable Water Resources Protection and Management Project”

The “Southern Group Sustainable Water Resources Protection and Management Project”, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cüneyd Demirel from Istanbul Technical University (ITU), aims to identify and develop strategies for the sustainable use and management of water resources. The project focuses on assessing water availability, consumption patterns, and climate impacts in Türkiye’s southern basins, while proposing measures to ensure long-term water security and ecosystem balance.

By combining hydrological modelling, risk analysis, and policy recommendations, the project contributes to national efforts for integrated water-resource management and supports local authorities in developing climate-resilient water policies. This initiative demonstrates ITU’s active role in promoting responsible water use and conservation beyond the campus, aligning with UN SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

“Southern Group Sustainable Water Resources Protection and Management” project

“Northern Group Sustainable Water Resources Protection and Management Project”

The “Northern Group Sustainable Water Resources Protection and Management Project”, coordinated by Prof. Dr. İrfan Yolcubal at Istanbul Technical University (ITU), investigates the hydrological and ecosystem impacts of sectoral water consumption and evaluates the current status of water-use rights in Türkiye’s northern basins.

The project focuses on identifying sustainable allocation strategies among industrial, agricultural, and domestic users to maintain ecological flow and basin integrity. Through advanced hydrological modelling, data analysis, and policy assessment, it aims to support evidence-based water governance and contribute to the national framework for sustainable water management.

By bridging scientific research and policy development, this initiative strengthens ITU’s leadership in responsible and equitable water use, and directly supports UN SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

“Northern Group Sustainable Water Resources Protection and Management” project

Education and Consultancy on the Water Conservation off Campus

Experts from the Istanbul Technical University play a crucial role in the water conservation off campus. ITU Sustainability Office Coordinator, Assoc Prof. Dr. Borte Kose-Mutlu had given education and consultancy on the water footprint calculation and the strategies to reduce the water footprint in the Chemical Industry. The reduction in water footprint in the industry is crucial to support the water conservation off campus.

WATER RESOURCES IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE: CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), with its working groups and distinguished members, provides science-based consultancy services on many platforms to identify high-priority issues in Türkiye and the world and to develop policies on these issues. In this regard, it organizes symposiums, conferences and workshops with the participation of qualified experts and prepares reports on current issues. In this context, climate change, which is a current issue for our country and the world, and consequently the status and future perspective of water resources in Türkiye were discussed in all aspects by TÜBA-Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change Working Group in a workshop hosted by Istanbul Technical University. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Duran Şahin is the Editor of the book.

Water in Istanbul Symposium at ITU

Water in Istanbul project, of which ITU is one of the stakeholders, was introduced to the world with an international symposium held at Taşkışla on March 14, 2023. The project aims to investigate water management in Istanbul from the Byzantine and Ottoman times to the present day, and to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies to address current problems. The symposium “Water in Istanbul and Beyond: Past, Present and Future” brought together speakers from ITU, British Institute at Ankara (BIAA), University of Edinburgh, Northumbria University and Middle East Technical University (METU). The research under the “Water in Istanbul: Rising to the Challenge?” The project is supported within the framework of British Academy - Knowledge Frontiers: International Interdisciplinary Research Scheme.

Our Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Şule Itır Satoğlu, who made the opening speech of the symposium, emphasized the importance of the subject and said the following: “Water management in Istanbul has posed challenges for the authorities from past to present. In order to use water resources efficiently and deliver them to the city, large projects have been carried out and important structures have been built. The significant experience of Istanbul in this field actually includes sample cases that shed light on today and the future.” Şafak Başa, General Director of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI), and Kate Greary, Deputy Consul General of British Consulate General Istanbul, also addressed the participants at the opening of the symposium. Lutgarde Vandeput, the project’s principal investigator from BIAA, outlined the symposium with her speech “Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Past, Present, Future”. Lecturer Dr. Çiğdem Özkan Aygün, project co-investigator on behalf of ITU from Department of Fine Arts, shared with the public various archaeological findings she has reached together with her research team.