Political tensions mount as Ankara faces growing water crisis President Erdoğan voices criticism of relevant agencies

Ankara’s water crisis is deepening, with repeated outages and deteriorating water quality disrupting everyday life across the capital. Aging infrastructure, declining network pressure and supply shortfalls have left many neighbourhoods without consistent access to clean water, sparking public frustration and drawing direct criticism from the country’s leadership.

The Ankara Water and Sewerage Administration (ASKI) announced that two districts would experience a 12-hour water cut on January 7, adding to a series of ongoing disruptions affecting multiple parts of the city, as reported by Daily Sabah.

That same day, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the issue during his party’s parliamentary group meeting, sharply criticizing local authorities and accusing them of mismanagement. “We will not leave this nation at the mercy of those who made countless promises during the election season but have been unable to provide even water to the capital for weeks,” he said.

In the Elmadağ district, residents report that water is cut at regular intervals and, when service resumes hours or even days later, the water is often muddy and discoloured. Locals say household filters have become clogged and that several people have suffered diarrhoea after drinking the water, raising alarm over potential public health risks, especially for children and the elderly.

Residents added that the area has been grappling with shortages for about a week and that the poor water quality has led to several hospitalizations. Meanwhile, the nearby Kargalı Dam, which supplies water to the district, is reportedly close to drying up, with visibly murky water remaining.

ASKI General Manager Memduh Aslan Akçay said recent snowfall has not translated into increased water inflows from the Gerede system or the Çamlıdere Basin, urging residents to conserve water.

In a statement released by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB), Akçay noted that precipitation has stayed below seasonal averages. “There is currently no increase in the water we receive from Gerede or the Çamlıdere Basin,” he said. “Snow has fallen, but because it has not melted, there has been no increase in inflow to the dams. For this reason, we are calling on our citizens to be much more careful about water conservation.”

Akçay said authorities are continuing efforts to secure supply, including projects to draw groundwater from wells that could meet the needs of roughly 500,000 residents. He added that work is ongoing on new transmission lines and upgrades to existing infrastructure from Kesikköprü.

Warning that drought conditions could persist, Akçay said planning is based on the possibility that drought levels seen in 2025 may continue into 2026. “We have an action plan in place for that scenario, and all our work is being carried out accordingly,” he said.

He also said multiple measures have been introduced to curb consumption, urging residents not to use tap water for filling swimming pools, watering gardens or fields, or washing cars or carpets.

Emphasizing that access to sufficient water for basic needs is a fundamental right, Akçay said ASKI and the municipality are working continuously, year-round, to ensure supply.

Political confrontation

As the publication observes, the water crisis has also taken on a political dimension. Ankara is governed by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Erdoğan and senior government officials have repeatedly criticized opposition-run municipalities over infrastructure management and the provision of basic public services.

Government figures argue that years of underinvestment have left major cities vulnerable to shortages, while opposition officials point to climate change, prolonged drought and rapid population growth as factors straining water resources nationwide.

Similar debates have also surfaced in Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city that is also governed by the CHP, where experts warn that falling dam levels and below-average rainfall are putting increasing pressure on the city’s water supply.

By Nazrin Sadigova