The experts, who met at the Ataşehir Municipality’s event, pointed out that everyone has a responsibility to protect water resources and warned, “Let’s avoid wasting even a drop of water.”
Ataşehir Municipality organized a conference on “Water is Life” at Mustafa Saffet Cultural Center in order to draw attention to the importance of water and to raise awareness about the climate crisis on 22 March World Water Day. At the conference, attention was drawn to the growing water problem and information was given to the participants on the protection and reproduction of resources.
At the conference, Environmental Education and Waste Management Association (TÜÇEM) President-Environmental Consultant Aynur Acar “The Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources”, Chemical Engineer- TÜÇEM Vice President Nihal Sözbir Karakuş “The Effect of Waste Oils on Water”, Pet-Plastic Recycling Specialist Elif Güray Kayaduman made a presentation on “How Can We Protect Our Seas From Plastics”.
“We are here to understand and explain the importance of water once again”
Ataşehir Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Manager Ayten Bağdatlıoğlu Kartal said, “As Ataşehir Municipality, we are carrying out activities that raise awareness especially for the protection of our water resources in these days when our world resources are rapidly depleted. Today, we are here to understand and explain the importance of water once again. We must all fulfill our responsibilities by consciously using water, which is our source of life, and by contributing to the protection of resources.
“We must develop habits of reducing the amount of waste, reusing and recycling”
Expressing that measures should be taken on an individual scale to protect the seas from plastics, Elif Güray Kayaduman said:
“More than 12 million tons of plastic waste enters the oceans every year. Unfortunately, people’s unconscious and irresponsible behaviors are caused by plastic waste that threatens our world so much. For this, people need to act consciously when using plastics. In order to maintain the balance in the ecosystem, we can enable individuals to gain some habits in daily life such as reducing the amount of waste, reusing and recycling. Thus, we can prevent plastic waste pollution by preventing it from leaking into nature and the oceans.”
“Vegetable waste oils constitute 25 percent of water pollution”
Stating that the oils used for frying foods become waste after two uses, Nihal Sözbir Karakuş said, “Vegetable oils spilled into the sink cause our water to be polluted. Waste oils, which adversely affect the life of sea creatures in particular, cause frequent fires in the landfill. At the same time, used vegetable waste oils constitute 25 percent of water pollution. Therefore, it is very important to collect the oils at the source and correctly.
“Let’s avoid wasting even a drop of water”
On the subject, TÜÇEM President Aynur Acar said, “It is predicted that 1.8 billion people will experience water scarcity and two-thirds of the world’s population will experience water stress in 2025. Water is the most basic resource of life. It is an indispensable need for our health. The protection and efficient management of water resources is important for the realization of sustainable environmental policies. In recent years, the world’s water resources have been adversely affected by these developments due to population growth and climate change. Using our water efficiently and correctly is to protect our future. Conserving water is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way. Let’s not forget that there is something we can all do to protect water resources. Let’s avoid wasting even a drop of water,” he said.
At the end of the conference, a faucet aerator to draw attention to the more efficient use of water and baking paper to prevent water waste were distributed to the citizens.
