An aerial drone photo taken on July 2, 2025 shows the drought-stricken Kurtbogazi Dam in Ankara, Türkiye. As summer grips Türkiye's capital, Ankara, the city of nearly 6 million is confronting a worsening water crisis. Reservoirs are nearing historic lows, and drought conditions exacerbated by climate change threaten to deliver one of central Anatolia's weakest wheat harvests in years. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) TO GO WITH Feature: Water crisis strains urban water, slashes crops in Turkish capital

by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- As summer grips Türkiye's capital, Ankara, the city of nearly 6 million is confronting a worsening water crisis. Reservoirs are nearing historic lows, and drought conditions exacerbated by climate change threaten to deliver one of central Anatolia's weakest wheat harvests in years.

The five major dams and reservoirs supplying the city are operating dangerously close to minimum thresholds after a winter of record warmth and below-average precipitation.

The ASKI, Ankara's water authority, said dam storage has dropped to just 15 percent, while reservoir levels are barely at 25 percent, well below what is needed to meet demand in the sprawling urban center.

"There are serious disruptions in precipitation patterns due to climate change," Memduh Aslan Akcay, ASKI's general manager, told Xinhua. "Since mid-2024, Ankara has not received sufficient rainfall to sustain effective water management."

"If water consumption continues at this level and rainfall remains scarce, we'll have to take drastic measures," Akcay noted. "Then we'll have to tell residents to use less water, even cut off supply at times."

The ASKI has already begun discouraging non-essential water use -- such as garden watering, pool filling, and car washing -- while introducing a tiered tariff system that penalizes heavy household consumption and rewards conservation efforts. In a bid to bolster supply, 24 new wells are being drilled in three districts.

Experts warn that this year's situation is part of a long-term trend.

"Climate change is a major global challenge, and its impact is particularly severe in Türkiye because of its position in the Mediterranean Basin, which is becoming increasingly arid," Adil Tek, an Istanbul-based meteorological expert, told Xinhua.

According to data from the Turkish State Meteorological Service, rainfall across the central Anatolian plateau was over 30 percent below the seasonal average during the 2024-2025 winter. Compounding the problem were record high temperatures that reduced snowpack and accelerated evaporation from existing reservoirs.

"These are no longer weather anomalies, they're climate realities," Tek pointed out.

Aside from urban risks, the agricultural heartlands surrounding Ankara are also suffering. Farmers across the plateau are reporting sharp drops in wheat, barley, and sunflower yields, staple crops that feed the nation and contribute to export markets.

Semsi Bayraktar, president of the Union of Turkish Agricultural Chambers, said in a statement in late June that grain harvest is expected to shrink significantly this year because of increasing drought in central Anatolia, Türkiye's so-called "breadbasket" where Ankara is located.

Türkiye's wheat production this year is projected to reach 18.65 million tonnes, falling at least 2 million tonnes below last year's yield due to climate factors, even though more land has been planted, according to the latest estimates revealed in May by the National Grain Council.

As Ankara braces for a sweltering and very dry summer with temperatures predicted to rise to 37 degrees next week, Akcay cautioned for the need of a community lead drought response, emphasizing that the mindset of the city must shift.

"We take tap water for granted, like it's infinite. But if we keep living like that, we will face more and more restrictions. Water is the essence of life, without it, there is no agriculture, no industry, no city," the official added. ■

An aerial drone photo taken on July 2, 2025 shows the drought-stricken Kurtbogazi Dam in Ankara, Türkiye. As summer grips Türkiye's capital, Ankara, the city of nearly 6 million is confronting a worsening water crisis. Reservoirs are nearing historic lows, and drought conditions exacerbated by climate change threaten to deliver one of central Anatolia's weakest wheat harvests in years. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) TO GO WITH Feature: Water crisis strains urban water, slashes crops in Turkish capital

An aerial drone photo taken on July 2, 2025 shows the drought-stricken Kurtbogazi Dam in Ankara, Türkiye. As summer grips Türkiye's capital, Ankara, the city of nearly 6 million is confronting a worsening water crisis. Reservoirs are nearing historic lows, and drought conditions exacerbated by climate change threaten to deliver one of central Anatolia's weakest wheat harvests in years. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) TO GO WITH Feature: Water crisis strains urban water, slashes crops in Turkish capital

An aerial drone photo taken on July 2, 2025 shows the drought-stricken Kurtbogazi Dam in Ankara, Türkiye. As summer grips Türkiye's capital, Ankara, the city of nearly 6 million is confronting a worsening water crisis. Reservoirs are nearing historic lows, and drought conditions exacerbated by climate change threaten to deliver one of central Anatolia's weakest wheat harvests in years. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) TO GO WITH Feature: Water crisis strains urban water, slashes crops in Turkish capital