Rize, Turkey begins €100 million water network upgrade

Rize Mayor Rahmi Metin announced a €100 million infrastructure project to replace roughly 300 km of the city's aging water pipes with new uPVC lines that can last up to a century. The overhaul aims to cut water losses, which currently stand at about 50 %, to below 20 % and to allow rapid, pinpoint repairs through a modern SCADA monitoring system. Metin said the work will be carried out over the next one to two years, during which some streets will be closed and temporary disruptions are expected. The investment is expected to secure a reliable water supply for the next 70‑80 years and increase the amount of water returned to natural streams, improving environmental conditions.

The project includes installing GPS‑type sensors on the network, creating regional valve controls, and upgrading the main distribution line that stretches over 450‑500 km across the municipality.