Regulation on Sponge City Practices

The "Regulation on Sponge City Practices" of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which entered into force by the Council Decision dated 16/09/2022 and numbered 1097, is the first Sponge City regulation issued in Turkey in terms of its scope.

Purpose and Scope

Article 1 - (1) This regulation aims to determine the applications to be made for ensuring rainwater management and reducing flood risk through the sponge city approach and green infrastructure methods.

(2) This Regulation covers the studies and processes related to creating a sponge city within the boundaries of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality.

As Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, we continue our efforts to develop a city identity that is resilient holistically to cope with crises created by changing climate conditions.

We fulfill our efforts with our institutional infrastructure to develop nature-based actions to define the city as part of nature rather than separate from it, with our pioneering institution identity.

Due to the increasing effects of climate change day by day, severe rainfall and accompanying flood disasters are causing irreversible consequences worldwide. We are establishing our efforts to protect our city from these destructive results.

Especially in cities, the presence of predominantly impermeable surfaces and the increasing surface runoff due to unexpected rainfall lead to floods. With the sponge city approach, which includes preventing floods, collecting rainfall in a controlled manner, and replenishing groundwater, our Metropolitan Municipality aims to popularize green infrastructure designs in our city.

In this context, the "Regulation on Sponge City Practices" has been prepared by the Climate Change and Zero Waste Department Presidency and the Water Resources Research and Application Center to ensure the management of rainwater with green infrastructure methods based on sponge city principles in our city and to combat flood risk accordingly. (Climate Change and Zero Waste Dep. Pres. E.941249)