Water (WR) 

Water conservation program implementation

Drinking water at Dokuz Eylul University (DEU) is supplied by İZSU, which provides İzmir with treated surface water from major dams (Tahtalı, Balçova, Gördes) and groundwater sources (Halkapınar, Menemen). According to the İZSU 2024 Report, the city’s drinking water capacity is 314.45 million m³ per year, with an average of 861,528 m³ delivered daily through 67 treatment plants.

Tahtalı Dam is the main source for DEU campuses, and water is treated to national quality standards before distribution.

DEU also takes active measures to reduce water consumption. At the Main (Tınaztepe) Campus, a 48-ton rainwater harvesting system and drip irrigation help conserve municipal water, while orchards and green areas are irrigated with stored rainwater during dry months.

Campus land use further supports natural water balance: about 56.2% is forested, 12.4% is natural vegetation, and 25% consists of permeable hard surfaces that allow rainwater to seep into the ground. This structure reduces runoff, supports groundwater recharge, and protects the campus hydrological cycle.

Through these measures—efficient municipal water use, rainwater harvesting, and natural drainage—DEU ensures sustainable water conservation. 

Water Recycling Program Implementation 

At the Technical Workshops located on the Tınaztepe Campus, a 360 m² roof area (60 m × 6 m) has been designed to collect and store rainwater in a 48-ton capacity reservoir. Based on long-term meteorological data, the region’s average annual precipitation is 716.5 mm. Approximately 80% of this rainfall can be effectively harvested from the roof surface and stored for reuse. The collected water is used in two ways: during autumn and winter, it supports cleaning and maintenance activities around the workshops, while in dry summer months, it is utilized for irrigating 40 fruit and olive trees in the surrounding area. The system captures and reuses an estimated 200 m³ of water annually.

DEU’s water recycling and recovery initiatives are currently in a development phase, with approximately 1–25% of the institutional plan implemented so far. Future projects aim to expand rainwater collection systems to additional buildings across the university, further enhancing water conservation and sustainability efforts.

Dokuz Eylül University has three semi-Olympic swimming pools. These pools are:

• Tınaztepe (Central) Campus Pool
• 15 July Health and Arts Campus (İnciraltı) Pool
• Seferihisar Faculty of Sports Sciences Campus Pool

Regular microbiological and chemical analyses are conducted in the pools for health and safety purposes, and pH and chlorine levels are monitored daily. If the specified threshold values are exceeded, especially if the free chlorine level rises above 0.2 mg/L, the water is refreshed by backwashing and fresh water is supplied to the pool. Approximately 30 tons of water are discharged from each pool per week. This water is collected in settling tanks and then used for watering green areas. This method saves approximately 4,700 tons of irrigation water per year. 

 Water efficient appliances usage 

Dokuz Eylul University promotes water efficiency through the use of modern, water-saving systems across all its campuses. Many buildings are equipped with photo-sensor taps and urinal flushes that activate only when needed, helping to reduce unnecessary water use. In addition, dual-flush toilet systems are installed in restrooms, allowing users to choose between a smaller or a full flush depending on the need. These simple but effective measures help DEU conserve a significant amount of water every day and reflect the university’s commitment to sustainable resource management. Approximately 40–60% of water-efficient appliances have been installed across DEU campuses. 

Consumption of treated water 

The drinking water for İzmir, including that supplied to Dokuz Eylul University (DEU) campuses, is provided and managed by the İzmir Water and Sewerage Administration (İZSU) under the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. The city’s drinking water network is fed by both surface water reservoirs and underground wells, which are treated at modern drinking water treatment plants before entering the municipal system.

As of 2024, İzmir operates 67 drinking water treatment facilities located across 20 sites, covering a total area of 273.198,93 m². Together, they offer an annual treatment capacity of 611.126.683 m³, with 314.457.735 m³ of potable water distributed to the city during 2024.

There are seven major drinking water treatment plants in İzmir that treat both underground and surface water sources. Among these, the Tahtalı and Balçova Drinking Water Treatment Plants supply the water used across DEU campuses.

The Tahtalı Drinking Water Treatment Plant, located south of Görece in the Menderes district, is the largest facility in İzmir with a daily treatment capacity of 520.000 m³ and an installed power of 1.250 kVA. It ensures that the water drawn from the Tahtalı Reservoir meets all drinking water standards. The facility includes advanced units for aeration, rapid mixing, clarification, rapid sand filtration, chlorination, sludge thickening and dewatering, as well as treated water storage and chlorine contact tanks. Water samples collected from the inlet and outlet points are analyzed regularly at the İZSU Central Laboratory and at the Public Health Institute Laboratories of the Ministry of Health.

The Balçova Drinking Water Treatment Plant, located adjacent to the Balçova Dam, was commissioned in May 1984 and has a daily treatment capacity of 70,000 m³. The facility is equipped with systems for aeration, pre-chlorination, rapid sand filtration, filtered water storage, and final chlorination, ensuring the water’s compliance with national standards.

Both the Tahtalı and Balçova plants operate 24 hours a day in three shifts, with mechanical, electrical, and construction teams providing continuous maintenance. Water and sludge samples are taken hourly and daily from multiple points — including raw water, process units, and treated water — and analyzed to ensure consistent water quality in compliance with the Turkish Standard TS 266.

All facilities are connected to İZSU’s central SCADA monitoring system at the Halkapınar Water Operations Center, where water quality, flow rates, and operational data are continuously tracked in real time. Through this advanced control network, the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality ensures that the tap water supplied to the entire city — including all DEU campuses — remains under systematic, 24-hour quality supervision.

Dokuz Eylul University (DEU), the water supplied by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality is further purified before use. In the Tınaztepe Campus Kitchen, two compact treatment systems located in the Boiler Room ensure that all water used in food preparation is properly treated.

Each cafeteria floor is also equipped with water dispensers containing built-in purification units, providing clean drinking water for staff and students. Overall, more than 75% of the water used across DEU campuses is treated and purified, reflecting the university’s commitment to health, safety, and sustainability.

Water pollution control in campus area 

Dokuz Eylul University utilizes treated water supplied by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality as part of the city’s water network. Additional purification systems operate in campus kitchens and dining areas to ensure high-quality water for daily use.

Water and wastewater monitoring is regularly performed in major consumption areas such as dining halls, the university hospital, and laundry facilities. All chemical and microbiological analyses are conducted by the Environmental Engineering Department and the results are submitted to the Office of the Rector for continuous oversight.