Industrial pollution in Kocaeli Elmacık Deresi stream

Residents in the Gebze district of Kocaeli have reported severe environmental pollution in the Elmacık Deresi stream. Local resident Rıdvan Güvenç alleges that industrial facilities, treatment plants, and recycling firms discharge chemical waste and untreated effluents into the water, particularly during rainy weather. These incidents reportedly cause intense foaming, color changes, and heavy odors, which residents claim have led to the death of local animals.

While residents have reported these issues to the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, they allege that inspections are insufficient and that officials have failed to conduct thorough investigations.

By November, reports indicate that the pollution remains a persistent issue in the Tavşanlı neighborhood. Residents allege that untreated wastewater is being discharged from multiple industrial zones, including Pelitli, Tavşanlı, Gebze, and İMES. Although authorities have reportedly stated they are monitoring and inspecting the area, locals claim that no permanent solution or effective intervention has been implemented to stop the discharge or mitigate risks to public health, animals, and vegetation.