Istanbul faces water crisis as dam levels drop below 30%

Istanbul is confronting a growing water shortage as the levels in the city’s dams have fallen sharply to 28%, according to the latest data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration.

The drop comes after a period of declining rainfall combined with rising water consumption during the hot summer months.

As of October 3, the total water stored in Istanbul’s dams stands at 241 million cubic meters, out of a total storage capacity of 868 million cubic meters.

On April 15, the water levels in Istanbul’s dams reached 82.22%, but due to continued heat and high consumption rates, the levels have steadily declined.