A Lifeline for İzmir’s Future from IZTECH: Groundwater to be Monitored Digitally
Izmir Institute of Technology ( IZTECH) is launching a major project to combat water scarcity and the salinization of groundwater, one of the most tangible effects of the global climate crisis. Supported by the European Union and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change of the Republic of Turkey, the project will protect Izmir’s coastal aquifers with digital sensors and monitor seawater intrusion in real time.
Led by the IZTECH Department of International Water Resources, in collaboration with the IZSU General Directorate, the project, titled “UGS4ClimateDW,” has been awarded funding under the European Union-Turkey Climate Change Grant Program. The project aims to serve as a model not only for Turkey but for the entire Mediterranean Basin with the local sensor technologies and purification solutions it will develop.
“We Mobilize Science to Solve the Problems of the City We Live In”
IZTECH Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran stated that the project is not just an academic endeavor but also carries a vision of social responsibility, noting:
“As IZTECH, our primary priority is for the high-quality knowledge we produce to transcend laboratory walls and touch society, providing solutions to the chronic problems of humanity and the city we live in. Water is a source of life that no other resource can replace. Climate change is not at our doorstep; it is now at the center of our lives. With this project, we are protecting Izmir’s underground water reserves with a digital shield. We are proud that the innovative solutions developed by our academics are breathing life into our city and our future.”
Digital Monitoring and On-Site Treatment of Coastal Aquifers
Prof. Dr. Alper Baba, Head of the International Water Resources Department at IZTECH, shared the technical details of the project and emphasized the critical importance of managing water in the digital world:
“Excessive use of groundwater in our coastal areas and rising sea levels are causing salt water to mix with our fresh water sources. With this project, we are establishing an ‘early warning system’ to monitor coastal aquifers across Izmir online. Using sensor systems we will develop ourselves, we will monitor water quality in real-time while initiating concrete treatment applications in selected areas against seawater intrusion. Our goal is to create a sustainable water management model by protecting every drop of water with technology.”
A Pioneering Model for the Mediterranean Basin
Developed in line with Izmir’s hydrogeological structure, this system also serves as a guide for Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Greece, and Spain, which face similar challenges due to climate change. The project, which will be implemented in the field in collaboration with IZSU, is cited as one of the most concrete examples of cooperation between local government and universities.
