Continuing its work in line with the goal of making the Izmir Bay swimmable again, the İZSU General Directorate observes the change in the Izmir Bay in the light of scientific data, within the scope of the Oceanographic Monitoring Project carried out with TUBITAK.
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality İZSU General Directorate continues its studies in the Gulf within the scope of the Izmir Bay Oceanographic Monitoring Project carried out in cooperation with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).
A team of 17 experts takes part in the project, which is the first system in Turkey to monitor water quality through observation and modelling. Scientists sailing to the Gulf with the TÜBİTAK Marmara ship 4 times a year, once every season, measure the physical, chemical, biological and microbiological quality of the water. Thanks to this method, changes in water and ecological developments can be controlled. Within the scope of the project, which will last for two years, observations are made in the discharge area of Mordoğan Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will be put into operation in 2022, along with seasonal sampling at 3 stations, in total 39 stations in Izmir Bay and 9 stations in each of Yeni Foça and Seferihisar Akarca bays. For the first time this year, monthly samplings are made from the main streams flowing into İzmir Bay such as Ağıl, AOSB, Cheesecioğlu, Bostanlı, Ilıca, Bornova, Meles, Manda, Poligon and Hacıahmet, as well as from the points where the Gediz River meets the sea. Thus, more detailed information about the pollution load and sediment transport coming into the bay is obtained. The project, which costs 3 million 400 thousand liras, also provides the opportunity to watch the underwater life. Within the scope of the project, underwater imaging is made from 12 different points to support the scientific study, and the effects of the treatment plants on their regions are also observed.
Sampling will also be taken from the point where the Gediz River meets the gulf.
Fisheries Engineer Senem Karabağlı, who works at İZSU General Directorate Körfez Branch Directorate, said, “TUBITAK will take samples from 57 stations for 4 seasons. It will also do underwater imaging. We have been following the recovery efforts in the Gulf for more than 20 years. This year, for the first time, monthly samples will be taken from the ten main streams flowing into the bay and the exit point where the Gediz River meets the bay, and these will be examined by TUBITAK. We are approaching step by step to the goal of a Swimming Bay,” he said.
Destination swimmable Gulf
Bora Sonuvar, Hydrograph Geology Engineer at İZSU General Directorate, Gulf Branch, stated that they carried out the first sampling in 2022 and said, “The Bay of İzmir has a depth of approximately 67 kilometers and proceeds from the open sea into the land. 12 kilometers of it forms our inner gulf. Izmir Bay is divided into three as outer, middle and inner gulfs. The TUBITAK Marmara research vessel will also make measurements in both the water column and the sediment within this holism. Physical and biochemical evaluations are made by taking samples from fixed stations. Marine life in the water column and main water bodies is evaluated. İZSU General Directorate examines the vitality in the bay in the light of scientific data. It is evaluated from the top of the food chain to the lowest sea creatures, including single-celled organisms. We support these observations through our 'Metoo Oceanographic Stations'. We can access all reports and data obtained through measurements made 7/24.”
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