Turkey's first sponge car park is in İzmir

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality is adding new elements to the Sponge City İzmir project, which was initiated to combat climate crises and drought. Turkey's first Sponge Car Park was implemented in Gaziemir as part of the project. President Soyer, who examined the work at the Gaziemir Sakarya Sponge Car Park, stated that they aim to collect and reuse rainwater with this implementation, noting, "In just this area, 6,000 cubic meters of water will be saved annually, equivalent to three Olympic swimming pools."

The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, which launched the Sponge City İzmir project to combat the global climate crisis and drought, has added a new element to the project. The Sakarya Car Park in Gaziemir, owned by İZELMAN, has been transformed into a sponge car park. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, who inspected the car park and received information, said, "Welcome to Turkey's first sponge car park." Mayor Soyer noted that at first glance, this place looks like any other car park in Turkey, but it is different. "This car park is unique compared to all other car parks in Turkey. The permeable material installed beneath the surface allows for the collection and storage of water underground. We do not waste the rainwater that would otherwise go into the rainwater channels. We do not let it be lost. We prevent it from flowing into the Gulf as rainwater. We store it here, which provides significant savings," he said.

Water savings
Mayor Soyer stated that special infiltration trenches, designed to collect and infiltrate water at specific points based on the flow directions of rainwater falling into the Gaziemir Sakarya Sponge Car Park, have been constructed. He emphasized that this car park alone saves an average of 6,000 cubic meters of water annually, equivalent to three Olympic swimming pools. Mayor Soyer also noted, "It contributes significantly to the water cycle and green transformation. We will adapt this to other car parks as well. The Sponge City project offers us endless opportunities. We are exploring ways to collect and reuse water in many areas that no one has thought of. We have initiated a brand new application in Turkey. By saving, protecting, and reusing rainwater, we are addressing one of the most critical issues of the climate crisis: drought."

"Offering a more beautiful and green environment"
Urban Planner Aybüke Gümüş, from the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Water Resources Research and Application Center, emphasized the importance of the work, stating, "By creating soil surfaces on impermeable areas covered with concrete or asphalt, we reduce the urban heat island effect. For example, this area was previously paved. We removed the pavers and added permeable materials underneath. We turned this place into an infiltration trench. This way, the rainwater in the area flows here and then infiltrates underground. Not only do we protect groundwater, but we also mitigate the urban heat island effect with the green space we create here. We provide a more beautiful and green environment." Explaining what the heat island effect is, Gümüş said, "Impermeable surfaces like concrete, asphalt, and glass reflect sunlight back, making us feel hotter than normal and causing climate change. The soil and plants we place here absorb heat, reducing the urban heat island effect in our city. Thus, it is a beneficial project for the environment."

Green transformation
A total of 644 square meters of the 8,200 square meter open car park operated by İZELMAN A.Ş. was made permeable. Specially designed infiltration trenches were constructed at specific points to collect and infiltrate rainwater based on its flow directions. Some areas were also turned into permeable surfaces where rainwater is collected. In these sponge areas, rainwater is collected and a green transformation is achieved through the water cycle.

The Sponge City İzmir project is expanding
A system encouraging rainwater harvesting has been implemented, distributing 5,000 rainwater tanks to 5,000 buildings and conducting a campaign to create 10,000 rain gardens in İzmir. Bus stops are being transformed into eco-friendly green stops through rainwater harvesting. The first works within this scope have been completed at 12 stops. A green transformation through rainwater harvesting is also being carried out in cemetery areas, with the first transformation project implemented at Işıkkent Cemetery.

The Metropolitan Municipality, which is transforming impermeable roads, car parks, and similar surface areas covered with asphalt and concrete into permeable areas to prevent floods, directs the rainwater falling on these areas to parks and medians, preventing floods and achieving green transformations through the water cycle. These implementations are being carried out in two park areas in Buca, at the Bornova Metro Station median, and at the Gaziemir İZELMAN car park.