Experts propose rainwater harvesting and riverbed protection to mitigate flood risks in Turkey

Experts in Turkey are proposing urgent measures to mitigate flood risks caused by intense rainfall and urban encroachment on riverbeds.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Öztürk, former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, suggests that rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory in cities like Istanbul. He notes that while urban restructuring is difficult and costly, harvesting water from building rooftops can prevent over 50 percent of flood disasters and help replenish groundwater. He also advocates for reinstating a 100-meter construction ban around riverbeds to prevent the sealing of natural waterways with concrete.

In Trabzon, Prof. Dr. Ömer Kara, Dean of the Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Forestry, emphasized the importance of riverbed improvement works. He warned that heavy rainfall leads to surface runoff that exceeds the carrying capacity of riverbeds, causing floods. Kara highlighted that the debris carried by floodwaters, such as stones and soil, contributes significantly to loss of life and property, recalling the devastating floods in Değirmendere and Söğütlü in 1990.