Water Quality Monitoring Activities of the State Hydraulic Works

Abstract

State Hydraulic Works (DSI) is a leading multiple function governmental organization in Turkey, which is responsible for carrying out almost all subsector activities at all stages of water resources development. DSI ensures long term supply of drinking, domestic, and industrial water. It plans, executes, and in most cases, also operates works for flood protection, irrigation and drainage, as well as for hydropower generation.

The purpose of the routine and continuous water quality monitoring practices of DSI is to determine the present and to predict the future situation of water resources in terms of quantity and quality and to take some preventive measures to provide safe and healthy water.

Water quality monitoring activities throughout Turkey have been carried out by State Hydraulic Works since 1979. Observations were initially started at 65 sampling points which reached a number of 1080 locations at present. In these practices, not only the sources that are under the threat of pollution and contamination, but also those having no potential pollution risk are monitored in order to prepare a proper database.

The collected water quality data are loaded on the computer for purposes of applying different statistical methods. As an example of data evaluation and utilization, the project “Environmental Assessment and Determination of Management Strategies in Büyük Menderes River Basin”, carried out by DSI, is summarized in the paper to demonstrate how water quality data can be used in the management of water resources.