Drought in Turkey

[5] Due to climate change, extreme droughts and water scarcity are predicted to increase,[6] for example in Ankara Province.

Drinking water was supplied from the Kızılırmak River to Ankara and from Melen Stream to Istanbul.

The total amount of precipitation between 1 October 2013 and 17 January 2014 was about half of the same period in the previous year and 37% below the long-term average.

[13] Precipitation was below average from mid-2019, and particularly the second half of 2020, and the drought mainly impacted agriculture in Turkey,[14] because big city reservoirs received rain before they ran out.

[16] Shrinking lakes may be due to reduced precipitation being part of climate change, and increased water use by agriculture.

[26] Officially sanctioned methods to combat drought include better protecting river basins,[27] building underground dams,[28] rainwater harvesting, use of grey water[29] and praying for rain.