Water management in Turkey as a public policy: An examination on the Southeastern Anatolian Project

Water is an indispensable and irreplaceable natural resource for all living life in the universe. Besides being an integral part of life and global ecosystem, water is also the source of sustainable agriculture, industrial production, hydroenergy, transportation, tourism and development. However, qualitative and quantitative reductions in water resources experienced today have made sustainable and efficient water using and effective management of resources imperative for all administrations. Thus, in an attempt to prevent water problems and get the most efficient utilization of water resources through controlling the water resources, the development projects have been applied in Turkey and the world. The Southeastern Anatolia project (GAP) is one of the first and biggest integrated development projects based on water in our country. However, the project hasn't been able to be completed for more than forty years due to problems in the implementation process. This study aims to examine the attitudes of those who work in the institutions responsible for water management in the GAP region towards water management and GAP in Turkey, to identify the causes of legal, institutional, and social problems that emerge in GAP implementation process, and to develop policy recommendations for the solution accordingly. In the first chapter of the study, the concepts related to water management, water resources and distribution, areas of use and consumption of water, factors that cause water problems, approaches to water management and information on efficient water management practices are included. In the second chapter, the historical development of water management in the world and in Turkey and information about the actors and institutions have been given. In the third chapter, information about the historical development and process analysis of the Southeastern Anatolia Project is given. In the fourth chapter, information about the findings and analysis obtained from the field study is given. Unlike other studies, the current study is of importance in the sense of being the first comprehensive study to demonstrate public opinion for GAP and water management in Turkey, to make the process analysis on water management in GAP, and to develop proposals for solutions. KEYWORDS: Water Management, Water Problems, Water Policy, Southeastern Anatolian Project