Turkish Kidney Foundation launches sustainable water management in dialysis

The Turkish Kidney Foundation (TBV) has launched a “Sustainable Water Management Model in Dialysis” at its Ahmet Ermiş Dialysis Center, becoming the first facility in Turkey to implement such a system. The initiative aims to address the high water consumption associated with dialysis treatments, which currently reach an estimated 2 billion liters annually across the country due to approximately 10 million sessions per year.

The project focuses on recovering water from the reverse osmosis (R.O.) purification systems used before hemodialysis. This water, which is separated due to mineral and conductivity imbalances but does not come into contact with patients, is now being redirected for use in facility cleaning and laundry services. In its first month of operation, the system saved 46,000 liters of water.

While not all water used in dialysis can be recovered, experts estimate that 18% to 20% of the water is suitable for reuse. If implemented across all dialysis centers in Turkey, the model could prevent the loss of 400 to 500 million liters of water annually. The hygiene standards of the reclaimed water have been verified by Ministry of Health laboratories.