[4] Water (WR)

[4.1] Water conservation program implementation (WR.1)

Drinking water is provided to our campuses by the Izmir Municipality’s İZSU Branch in accordance with the Turkish Law on Metropolitan Municipalities. This water undergoes thorough treatment and is safe for consumption. According to the information available on İZSU’s websites (as provided below), approximately 41.2% of the water supplied to the network is sourced from dams.

Approximately 55% of the DEU campus grounds are covered by forested areas, while 11.8 % features planted vegetation. Additionally, 24.7% of the campus areas consist of solid surfaces capable of absorbing rainwater. These hard surfaces in the campus areas are constructed with permeable interlocking paving stones. As a result, in the majority of the campus areas, rainwater is naturally absorbed by the soil, contributing to groundwater replenishment.

Technical Ateliers in Tınaztepe Campus use a capacity of 48 tons of rainwater harvesting reservoir. They are currently having a roof of 60 m x 6 m (360 m2) and can fill the reservoir in four heavy rains. They have 40 olive and fruit trees in their green areas and harvested water provides them to irrigate these trees for about three dry months.

In our university campuses, drip systems for garden irrigation are used, thus saving water.

Therefore, about 25-50 % of the water is conserved in campuses.

Water-absorbing areas that make up the majority of DEU campus lands

Drip water irrigation in Tınaztepe Campus Rain water harvest system

[4.2] Water Recycling Program Implementation (WR.2)

The total amount of water consumed in the year 2022 is 392,521 m3. The roof area of the Technical Ateliers located in the Tınaztepe Campus is 360 m² (60 m x 6 m), and the rainwater harvested from the building’s roof is transferred to a rainwater collection tank with a capacity of 48 tons. According to long-term meteorological data averages (https://www.mgm.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?m=IZMIR), the total precipitation of 710 mm in height that falls during the year is collected with 80% efficiency from the Technical Ateliers’ roof area and stored in the rainwater collection tank, which is then used. The water collected during the autumn and winter months is used for cleaning the external areas of the Workshops section, and during the dry summer months, it is used for irrigating the 40 fruit trees located in this area. The annual amount of actively harvested water from the roof area is around 200 m³.

The current condition of DEU about water recycling programme is 1-25% implemented at early stage.

Rain water reservoir

Technical Atelier building harvesting tank and the trees around in Tınaztepe Campus

[4.3] Water efficient appliances usage (WR.3)

DEU demonstrates its commitment to water efficiency through the adoption of various water-saving appliances. Examples include:

Photo Cellular Water Taps and Urinal Flushes: DEU campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art photo-cellular water taps and urinal flushes. These devices are designed to operate based on sensor inputs, ensuring that water is only dispensed when needed, which significantly reduces water wastage.

Two-Stage WC Flushes: Dual-flush toilet systems are employed in restroom facilities throughout DEU. These two-stage WC flushes provide users with the option to use a reduced amount of water for liquid waste or a full flush for solid waste, promoting water conservation.

Water Springs with Pressure Latches: DEU incorporates water springs equipped with pressure latches in various locations. These devices require users to apply pressure to release water, making them an efficient choice for minimizing water usage, as water is dispensed only while the latch is engaged.

These water-efficient appliances help DEU in its mission to conserve water resources and reduce unnecessary consumption on its campuses.

Motion sensitive taps
Double stage system reservoirs
	Water-conserving appliance utilization at DEU: photo-sensitive water faucets and urinal flush systems, as well as dual-flush toilets and pressure-activated water springs.

Therefore, at DEU, >50% of water-efficient appliances are installed.

[4.4] Consumption of treated water (WR.4)

There are 9 potable water treatment plants located in different areas for the underground and surface water sources that provide drinking water to the city of Izmir. Within the DEU campuses, the water taken is treated at the Tahtalı Drinking Water Treatment Plant and the Balçova Drinking Water Treatment Plants.

The Tahtalı Drinking Water Treatment Plant, located to the south of Görece Cumhuriyet Mahallesi in the

Menderes district, has a daily capacity of 520,000 cubic meters and an installed power of 1,250 kVA. It ensures that the water taken from the Tahtalı reservoir is treated to meet drinking water standards. The treatment facility consists of units such as aeration, rapid mixing, clarifiers, rapid sand filters, chlorination, sludge thickening and dewatering, treated water tank, and chlorine contact tank.

Tap water is supplied by Izmir Municipality- IZSU Branch in our campuses according to the Metropolitan Municiplity Law. The tap water is treated in Drinking Water Treatment Plants before fed to the water network. The Balçova Drinking Water Treatment Plant, located just in front of the dam structure, was completed in May 1984. This facility, with a capacity of 70,000 cubic meters per day, includes units for aeration, pre-chlorination, rapid sand filters, filtered water tank, and final chlorination.

Additionally, in DEU kitchens, water received from the Metropolitan Municipality is subjected to treatment before use. In the Tınaztepe Kitchen, there are two treatment facilities in the Boiler Room, and meals are prepared using this treated water. Furthermore, on each floor of the cafeteria, there are 2-3 water dispensers with built-in purification systems, providing purified drinking water to the staff.

This ensures that more than 75% of the water used on the campuses is treated water.

Views from Tahtalı Potable Water Treatment Plant of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality

Views from Balçova Potable Water Treatment Plant of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality

Potable water treatment facilities in DEU Tınaztepe Kitchen

[4.5] Water pollution control in campus area (WR.5)

DEU relies on treated city water provided by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, which is integrated into the municipal water supply system. Furthermore, supplementary treatment facilities are deployed within the kitchens and dining areas across DEU campuses. In Dokuz Eylul University, water and wastewater assessments are conducted within areas of high water utilization, such as dining facilities, the hospital, and laundry facilities. Comprehensive chemical and microbiological analyses are carried out in the dedicated laboratories of the Environmental Engineering Department at our university and subsequently reported to the Office of the Rector.

Analysis reports of water used at different DEU campuses