The 8200 m² open parking area in Gaziemir Sakarya, operated by İzelman A.Ş., has undergone a green transformation through a water cycle. A total of 644 m² area has been made permeable, and an area of 206 m² has been converted into a sponge parking lot with the construction of 9 separate infiltration trenches. The project aims to separate rainwater runoff from the combined sewer system in the area and its surroundings, prevent waterlogging around the parking lot, and reduce the urban heat island effect.

The Buca Bahçekapı Park, located on 1025th Street in the Yaylacık neighborhood of Buca district, sits at a lower elevation compared to its surroundings. The project has earned the distinction of being Turkey's first sponge park by diverting rainwater from the surrounding streets away from the existing sewer system and directing it into the park area. Through this endeavor, Bahçekapı Park in Buca district has been transformed into a "sponge park" capable of effectively managing runoff rainwater, preventing floods, and replenishing groundwater sources. The concept of a sponge park aims to manage water more sustainably by allowing rainwater to infiltrate the soil naturally, thus replenishing the groundwater level.

Upon examining the details of the project, it's evident that due to the park's lower elevation compared to the surrounding roads and structures, the flow of rainwater towards the park area has been facilitated. By severing connections to the existing infrastructure and redirecting rainwater to the park, infiltration of water into the soil has been ensured. As part of the project, three "Flood Drainage Wells" have been installed. These drainage wells prevent rainwater from accumulating and pooling in the park area, facilitating its infiltration into the ground. Consequently, uncontrolled water flow is mitigated, groundwater sources are replenished, and the risk of flooding is minimized.

In Buca District, particularly in Atatürk Mahallesi on Street 202/58 and its surroundings, heavy rainfall leads to waterlogging, especially in the lower parts of the basin. Within the scope of the project, integrated green infrastructure techniques are aimed to be implemented to capture and prevent the runoff of rainwater during heavy rains, thereby preventing waterlogging. With these practices, flooding will be prevented, and there will be no need for revisions to the rainwater line. Techniques such as cut curbs, grated cut curbs, rainwater infiltration basins, rainwater infiltration trenches, and flood drainage wells will be employed in the working area to collect, bio-filter, and infiltrate approximately 470 tons of rainwater per day into the trenches. Additionally, excess rainwater will be directly conveyed to the underground aquifer through flood drainage wells. The drainage well opened within the trench is 40 meters deep and can infiltrate approximately 6.5 tons of water per hour into the ground.

The aim is to collect and infiltrate rainwater from the open plant production fields, greenhouse roof area, and surrounding agricultural areas of the Bademli Agricultural Development Cooperative in Ödemiş into the infiltration pond, thereby raising the groundwater level. The pond, covering an area of 1,255 m², includes 769 m² of infiltration area. It is estimated that 2,307 m³/day of rainwater will be infiltrated daily, and the annual amount of water to be stored underground will be 58,800 m³/year. This pilot implementation will serve as an exemplary model for the Küçük Menderes Plain and will be effective in combating the water crisis.

To promote rainwater harvesting within the city and raise awareness, we are initiating rainwater harvesting at existing rain stops. Using modular rainwater tanks, water will be collected from the roofs of the stops and used in the surrounding rain gardens. As part of this initiative, the YKM - Konak Bus Stops have been selected for the pilot project.

In our city, rainwater downpipes are generally connected directly to the sewer system, adding extra load to the sewer system during heavy floods. Storing this clean water for use when needed will reduce the city's dependency on water resources and create a more resilient structure against climate change. In line with this, 5000 rainwater harvesting tanks are being donated to 5000 buildings as part of an incentive program initiated by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. These tanks are intended for use in garden irrigation, car washing, or building cleaning. This initiative is a significant step towards widespread rainwater harvesting and establishing a sustainable culture in the city. On December 26, 2022, the Sponge City project was launched by Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer at the Historic Gas Factory. During the launch, it was announced that applications for the 5000 Buildings, 5000 Tanks Project and the incentive system for 10,000 rain gardens had begun, with this information shared with the public via the Sponge City website. Following the launch of the Sponge City Izmir Project, technical inspections were carried out for citizens who applied for the 5000 Buildings, 5000 Tanks Project through our Sponge City website and application links. After the technical inspections, calls were made to inform eligible citizens about their status. Following the information process, citizens are required to go to the Climate Change and Cleanliness Branch Directorate to sign a commitment letter and make a payment. Once the signing and payment processes are completed, citizens are placed in line for tank distribution, and the Climate Change and Cleanliness Branch Directorate handles the distribution of the tanks.

One of the awareness projects, where İzmir sports clubs (Göztepe, Karşıyaka, Altay, Altınordu, Bucaspor, and İzmirspor) participate in rainwater harvesting, has been developed to promote an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach. Sports clubs have a large following and a significant impact on society. Therefore, their participation in rainwater harvesting projects is an effective method for raising awareness throughout İzmir. This project will help sports clubs save money, raise awareness about rainwater harvesting, combat the climate crisis, and reduce their environmental impact.

At Işıkkent Cemetery, rainwater accumulated on the paved walking paths was traditionally directed to the sewer system through grates, and the clean water from public fountains was also drained via the same system, leading to flooding issues in the surrounding areas. This resulted in inefficient use of water resources and environmental problems. With the developed project, the previously wasted surface runoff and fountain water are now collected in a tank, treated, and used in the irrigation system. This approach aims to save 9,579 m³ of water annually at Işıkkent Cemetery. The sustainable design approach at Işıkkent Cemetery emphasizes not only energy-focused perspectives but also the conservation and enhancement of water resources. This project aims to manage water resources efficiently and effectively, promoting environmental sustainability and the economic and ecological utilization of water. Additionally, the project includes harvesting rainwater from the mosque roof within the cemetery. A 3-ton rainwater tank has been placed in front of the mosque and connected to the mosque's gutters. This tank has the potential to harvest approximately 10 tons of water annually.

This work applied in the wedding hall garden covers an area of 36 m². Based on the 2-year, 24-hour rainfall data corresponding to a 215 m² portion of the total roof area, the rain garden application, planned in two sections, stores and infiltrates 11.8 m³ of water into the ground.

As part of the Çamkıran Site Rainwater Harvesting Project, it is intended to harvest rainwater falling on the 300 m² roof of the building located in Çamkıran Site in Manavkuyu Neighborhood, Bayraklı district. In this context, two 3-ton tanks have been used, and it is expected to harvest 150 tons of rainwater annually.

A rainwater harvesting application has been implemented at the İzmir Institute of Technology located in Urla. Two 3-ton polyethylene tanks, integrated together, harvest rainwater from a 235 m² roof. The project's annual potential rainwater quantity is approximately 118 m³. During heavy rainfall, overflow from the tanks is directed to a rain garden that has been implemented. The harvested rainwater is used for garden irrigation, aided by a booster pump connected to the tanks. Additionally, a rain garden has been implemented in a 12 m² area within the faculty garden. Based on the 2-year, 24-hour rainfall data corresponding to a 73 m² portion of the total roof area, the rain garden and infiltration trench application stores and infiltrates 4.45 m³ of water into the ground. Furthermore, another rain garden has been implemented in a 12 m² area within the school garden. Based on the 2-year, 24-hour rainfall data corresponding to a 225 m² portion of the total roof area, this rain garden application stores and infiltrates 12.35 m³ of water into the ground.

The residents of Sarpıncık Village applied to the SpongeCity İzmir project to harvest rainwater. As a result of on-site assessments, it was determined that the gardens of the village houses allowed for the use of rainwater tanks. Therefore, rainwater tanks (34 units of 1 ton and 1 unit of 3 tons) were provided to 35 houses with sufficiently large roofs. Additionally, to raise awareness about the protection of water resources, artistic figures depicting the relationship between water and people were painted on the walls of the village houses as part of the rainwater harvesting initiative. This project promotes the sustainable management of natural resources and encourages people to live in greater harmony with their environment. Following the implementation, the impact of the rainwater tanks on water consumption in Sarpıncık Village, which experiences water shortages during the dry summer months, will be monitored and evaluated.

The work implemented in an apartment building in Buca covers an area of 9 m². Based on the 2-year, 24-hour rainfall data corresponding to a 65 m² portion of the total roof area, the rain garden application has been designed to store and infiltrate 3.56 m³ of water into the ground.

As part of the SpongeCity İzmir Project, a rainwater harvesting project has been implemented in the area belonging to the Gaziemir Fire Department group, which includes a vehicle park with a roof area of 240 m² and an administrative building with a roof area of 200 m². The rainwater harvested from the roof of the vehicle park area is stored in the existing pool within the project area. The rainwater collected from the roof of the administrative building is gathered using a 5-ton polyethylene rainwater tank and then transferred to a filtration system. The Gaziemir Fire Department Rainwater Tank consists of two filtration units capable of filtration and one packaged hydrophore. The water passing through the filtration system is conveyed to the network system for use in purposes such as hand and face washing, showering, and cleaning within the administrative building. The project aims to harvest approximately 250 tons of rainwater annually.

The first example of rainwater well implementation, one of the rainwater harvesting techniques of the SpongeCity, was carried out at the Ödemiş Bademli Seedling Production Facility located in the Küçük Menderes Plain. This study involves directing rainwater, which falls on the greenhouse roof, through a filtration tank to the rainwater well.