Abstract
The world has realized the fact that the limited resources can't be sustainable for a long time. Sustainable transformation is a key issue to save the current resources and natural environment for the next generation. 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can help governments to focus on main issues to achieve a balance between social, environmental, and economic development. At this point, Goal 6 points out the importance of saving clean and safe freshwater resources. This chapter aims to present the link between municipalities and water security in Turkey. Turkey case was selected according to its risky position in the level of water stress. This study used recent reports and statistical data on environmental indicators related with freshwater resources and the implications of municipalities in Turkey. Environmental Indicators 2020 Report guided the authors to determine water indicators in Turkey. In addition, the available open access data from TURKSTAT is used to determine water supply services of municipalities.
TopIntroduction
Water security is a vital issue for the sustainability of humanity and biodiversity in the Earth. The environmental damages, climate change and global warming all threaten the water resources. Therefore, water pollution is getting higher due to the human activities recently. “Water pollution occurs by mixing inorganic, biological, organic and radioactive materials with water to an extent that disrupts the use of water resources” (Keleş, et al., 2012). Water security represents the available level of water resources for all people and eco-system in the Earth (Bakker, 2012). “Water security is a cycle with the implication of multiple interdependent and interconnected dimensions (hydrologic, economic, geographic, environmental, political, social, legal, financial, etc.) at local, national, regional, and global scales” (Moumen, 2019). The term 'security' is conceptualized as a function of 'availability', 'accessibility to services', 'safety and quality', and 'management” (Gain, 2016).
The water security issue is related with economic, social environmental issues in the context of the climate change (Allan, et al., 2013). Staddon ve Scott (2018) determined that the topic of water security was so popular by linking them to studies of hydropolitics when considering that arguments on the sustainability were outdated. Studies on the water security include both of physical and social sciences (Cook and Bakker, 2012). UNESCO’s International Hydrological Program’s (IHP) Strategic Plan is an important plan studying on the water security (Moumen, 2019).
The availability of clean water resources seems to challenge with the growing population while this sources gives a life for all ecosystems in the Earth. Recent findings have showed that most of the wetlands have disappeared. The usage of freshwater is a fundamental consumption for people but the growing population, agriculture, pollution and climate change increase the water scarcity (see Table 1) during the present period. Accordingly, near future as in 2025, the most proportion of the World will challenge with water scarcity (WWF, n.d.).
Table 1. The causes of water scarcity
| Causes | The link |
| Water Pollution | Water pollution threatens human health, agriculture, ecosystem and etc. Preventing water pollution is the primary goal of policy makers and all people if they want to get access to clean water in the long term. |
| Agriculture | Agriculture needs specific quantity of freshwater frequently to give agricultural product efficiently. Thus, the usage of water resources by agriculture should be planned carefully in the context of sustainable agriculture methods. |
| Population Growth | The estimation on the future World population seems to demand more water resources. At this point, the water availability can challenge the population. |
| Climate change | Climate change brings the global warming at the global level. Higher warm weathers cause lower rain and downfall and so, the number of freshwater resources such as river, lake, stream etc. will reduce over time. |
Source: Adapted from WWF, (n.d.).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Dryness: Drought, which is generally a slowly developing climate event, is a water scarcity in the soil caused by moisture imbalance.
Water Justice: Drought causes soil inefficiency and poverty. Not having access to clean water creates serious health problems. Water-based inequalities bring the issue of water justice to the agenda.
Water Scarcity: It expresses the limitation and almost exhaustion of the water resources.
Water Security: It expresses the sufficient quantity and quality of water resources.
Municipality: Municipalities are the closest local administrations to the public, whose management styles and relations with the central government vary according to the countries.
Water Stress: It expresses the pressure on freshwater resources.
Sponge Cities: It refers to a system that develops for the retention and reuse of rain water in accordance with the design in the city.
Fresh Water Resources: Fresh water can be expressed as water with potable chemical properties.