WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION CENTER

Frequent occurrences of floods and water-related disasters due to climate change have made our city more vulnerable. Inspired by experiences in other cities worldwide concerning sustainable water management, low-impact urban development, water-focused urban design, and the concept of the sponge city, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has taken action to initiate a new approach to sustainable rainwater management in İzmir. To achieve this goal, the "Water Resources Research and Implementation Center," the first of its kind among local governments in Turkey, has been established within İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and became operational as of September 2021.

Comprised of experienced engineers, landscape architects, and urban planners, the team generates solutions with water-focused planning in İzmir, effective management of existing water resources, and all water-related issues including increasingly severe flood and drought events due to climate change, both in urban and rural areas of the city. The main mission of the center is to effectively manage İzmir's surface and ground water resources, carry out necessary planning and project studies, identify potential problems related to the climate crisis, floods, droughts, and other water-related issues, and develop solutions.