Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerWithin the scope of the Sponge City İzmir project implemented by . Delivering the warehouses to the citizens, Mayor Soyer said, “We will start our project from Bademler and spread it all over İzmir. Our Tahtalı Dam meets 50 percent of İzmir's water needs. If we can collect all the water accumulated on the roofs, we will collect as much water as Tahtalı Dam.”
Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerThe first rainwater harvest tanks were distributed in Bademler Village within the scope of the Sponge City İzmir project, prepared with the vision of “Another Water Management is Possible”. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, who delivered the warehouses to the citizens Tunç Soyerİzmir Village Coop Union Chairman of the Board Neptün Soyer, Bademler Village Development Cooperative Chairman of the Board Murat Kulaç, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Advisor, geological engineer Alim Murathan, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality bureaucrats, council members, muhtars, farmers accompanied. In the village square, the citizens greeted Mayor Soyer with banners that read “Another agriculture, another water management is possible”, “We stored rain water without bringing water from a thousand streams” and “We know the value of thirst best”.
We will hand in hand
The Mayor, who first went to see the rainwater harvesting tank established in the house of Senem-Ali Biçer and Aslıhan Şenkul in Bademler Village. Tunç Soyer, “First of all, we installed a rain water tank in your house. Many people are still unaware of the climate crisis we are in. It's not a matter of today, but it's not destiny either. There is no way anyone can be healthy on a sick planet. Then we need to cooperate to cure it. We need to take precautions. We will join hands, we will fight to solve this problem. Here we take the first step. I hope it will be a project that will spread all over Turkey,” he said.
We started the distribution from the village where Susuz Yaz was filmed.
Mayor Soyer, who visited the tradesmen in the village of Bademler and met with the citizens in the village square, said, “With the Sponge City Izmir project, we set out to encourage rainwater harvesting both in our urban areas and in our rural areas. We are starting our 5 thousand rain water tank incentive program in Bademler village on March 22, World Water Day, and we give our first tanks here. The water struggle of Bademler village and its people became known to the whole world as the subject of Susuz Yaz. The reason why we started the rain water tanks that we will distribute within the scope of our rain water harvesting activities from the village of Bademler, which was the subject of the first internationally awarded Turkish movie 'Susuz Yaz', shot in 1963, is the struggle of our citizens living in Bademler, who know the importance and value of thirst and drought. This is such a struggle that it has made its voice known to the whole world by witnessing and fighting for the right to water, the property of water, the value of thirst.”
With the project, 1 tons of water will be saved in 60 year.
Emphasizing that we have been facing an even worse picture since the film was shot, Mayor Soyer said, “Drought is increasing, water resources are decreasing. We did not pay any attention, we thought that the water of the streams was abundant. When it started to end, then we said that there is something wrong with this business. The drought and climate crisis we have experienced in recent years are warnings for us to use our water efficiently. We wanted to find a solution when the ant got dark. We are starting the distribution of rainwater tanks. We call it a sponge city, we want to create a city that gives back what it absorbs like a sponge. The tanks made here draw attention to this purpose. We start in 13 houses in the first place. We will use the rainwater flowing from the roofs wherever it is needed. This system aims to save 1 tons of water in 60 year. We will start our project from Bademler and spread it all over İzmir. Our Tahtalı Dam meets 50 percent of İzmir's water needs. If we can collect all the water accumulated on the roofs, we collect as much water as Tahtalı Dam. Our intention is to collect the rain on the roofs of the city center throughout Izmir. We will collect the water from the roofs of houses, villages and neighborhoods, and at the same time we will collect it in industrial lobes in city centers.”
We have to save the future
Stating that the country deserves much better things, President Soyer said, “One hundred years ago, the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk held the Economics Congress in Izmir. 100 years later, we were fortunate enough to organize it. The Economic Congress of the Second Century was an incredible congress. Just as our ancestors raised the country 100 years ago, we will do the same 100 years from now. While Atatürk was establishing the new economy of this new country, he brought together 135 delegates in İzmir. He hopefully made decisions for the future of the country under those conditions. Let no one darken the neck. We are coming stronger. We have to save the future for our children and grandchildren. Now we will do our part, we will work even harder,” he said.
We are ready to protect and manage our water for our future
İzmir Village Coop said that the efficient use of water resources is of vital importance and that they support the project. Neptün Soyer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Union, said, “We all need to work together to realize water-related projects, which are indispensable for agricultural production and efficiency. Sustainable management of our water resources is very important in order to protect our nature and to cultivate more efficiently in our fertile lands. Water management affects many areas from education to health. In order to ensure the continuity of our food, we must protect our water resources and use them in a planned manner. The project is really exciting. The importance of this project in solving the water problem in the plain during the dry season, when we need water the most, cannot be disputed. Being aware of the negativities related to the climate crisis and drought, these and similar projects prepared by considering scientific data give us hope. We are ready to plan, protect and manage our water for our future.”
I'm so happy
Stating that the water shortage is of great importance both in our country and in the world, and that she applied as soon as she heard about the project, Aslıhan Şenkul said, “My application was accepted and our warehouse arrived. We have a system. We will use the tank to water our garden. We intend to use it as drinking water in the future. I am very happy as the lucky people who bought the first warehouse.”
Senem-Ali Biçer couple, who bought a rain water harvest tank, said, “My daughter found this project and suggested it. It was the first opportunity for us in İzmir. Rain water will no longer be wasted. We will build a cistern with the warehouse established in my garden, we will water our trees and flowers in my garden. Thanks to this warehouse, we will be more comfortable now.”