İzmir’s water hailed by international scientists
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolian Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 26, 2009 00:00
İZMİR - International scientists visiting İzmir hailed the city’s battle for cleaner water, comparing it to other countries’ attempts to reduce arsenic levels. Scientists gather in İzmir for the International Congress of Safe Water Production.
İzmir’s successful battle to purify its waters has been praised by international scientists.
Visiting the western city for the International Congress of Safe Water Production, international scientists cited examples of cities that had high amounts of arsenic in their waters and hailed İzmir as undertaking one of the most prolific efforts to fight it.
First discovered in tests conducted in the summer of 2007, arsenic levels in İzmir’s water were declared to be dangerous. Metropolitan Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu said after measures had been taken the arsenic level had now been reduced to standard levels.
"I must say proudly that we took giant steps to find a solution for the water problem in İzmir," said Kocaoğlu. "Although the water level in our dams is not very high due to rainfall frequency, we came up with a project to avoid any future water problems."
International scientists’ comments proved Kocaoğlu’s statements were true. "The numbers in İzmir may seem high, but in fact they are not, compared to our country," said Dr. Marta Litter of Argentina’s General San Martin University. "In Argentina, the arsenic level can be as high as 1,000 micrograms per liter, although it differs among seasons."
Litter said İzmir’s water quality awareness should be praised.
"I have seen that İzmir has been very interested in the problem and has been seriously battling it," she said. "I think the work done here has been really successful."
Swedish scientist Prosun Bhattacharya of the Royal Technology Institute spoke to participants about the situation in his country.
"There is an arsenic problem in northern Sweden, an important area for mining," said Bhattacharya. "Recently, research has proven that there is a serious amount of arsenic in the water, for example, 82 micrograms per liter in Stockholm, and there is now work being done to fight it. There is a project to establish filtration system for homes."
As part of his job with the Sustainable Reducing of Arsenic project of the Swedish International Development Association, Bhattacharya is working in Bangladesh, where the situation is even worse than İzmir.
Ten times higher
"Since 1990, there has been a serious arsenic problem in Bangladesh," said Bhattacharya. "There, the arsenic levels are almost 10 to 15 times higher than in İzmir, as high as 900 micrograms per liter. People are still not using the filtration system and drink arsenic-filled water."
Bhattacharya also praised the successful battle in İzmir.
"I have been informed about the kind of processes İzmir is following," he said. "The first step should always be to locate where the arsenic is coming from and why. I am very pleased to see that İzmir is undertaking that kind of work."
Japanese scientist Dr. Kazuharu Yoshizuka of the Kitakyushu University chemical engineering department said İzmir water was cleaner than water in Japan.
"There is almost 10 times as much arsenic in Japan’s geothermal waters than in İzmir," said Yoshizuka. "We try to change the way the water is flowing to reduce the arsenic levels and try to make the water as clean as İzmir’s water."
He added, "More than 200,000 people are using water with arsenic levels higher than the standards set by the European Union in my country."
Paul Sylvester from the U.S.-based Solmetex said the problem could also be seen in the United States.
"In some parts of the United States, especially in the Northeast and the Southeast, there are 400 to 500 micrograms of arsenic per liter, which is way higher than İzmir’s levels," said Sylvester. "Some states were given five years to move their levels to within EU standards but it can be very expensive."
Turkish scientist Cafer Yavuz, who is working at Rice University in the United States, also praised İzmir, adding that he drank the water in the city. "There is no problem health here," said Yavuz. "I drank İzmir’s water, too."
Visiting the western city for the International Congress of Safe Water Production, international scientists cited examples of cities that had high amounts of arsenic in their waters and hailed İzmir as undertaking one of the most prolific efforts to fight it.
First discovered in tests conducted in the summer of 2007, arsenic levels in İzmir’s water were declared to be dangerous. Metropolitan Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu said after measures had been taken the arsenic level had now been reduced to standard levels.
"I must say proudly that we took giant steps to find a solution for the water problem in İzmir," said Kocaoğlu. "Although the water level in our dams is not very high due to rainfall frequency, we came up with a project to avoid any future water problems."
International scientists’ comments proved Kocaoğlu’s statements were true. "The numbers in İzmir may seem high, but in fact they are not, compared to our country," said Dr. Marta Litter of Argentina’s General San Martin University. "In Argentina, the arsenic level can be as high as 1,000 micrograms per liter, although it differs among seasons."
Litter said İzmir’s water quality awareness should be praised.
"I have seen that İzmir has been very interested in the problem and has been seriously battling it," she said. "I think the work done here has been really successful."
Swedish scientist Prosun Bhattacharya of the Royal Technology Institute spoke to participants about the situation in his country.
"There is an arsenic problem in northern Sweden, an important area for mining," said Bhattacharya. "Recently, research has proven that there is a serious amount of arsenic in the water, for example, 82 micrograms per liter in Stockholm, and there is now work being done to fight it. There is a project to establish filtration system for homes."
As part of his job with the Sustainable Reducing of Arsenic project of the Swedish International Development Association, Bhattacharya is working in Bangladesh, where the situation is even worse than İzmir.
Ten times higher
"Since 1990, there has been a serious arsenic problem in Bangladesh," said Bhattacharya. "There, the arsenic levels are almost 10 to 15 times higher than in İzmir, as high as 900 micrograms per liter. People are still not using the filtration system and drink arsenic-filled water."
Bhattacharya also praised the successful battle in İzmir.
"I have been informed about the kind of processes İzmir is following," he said. "The first step should always be to locate where the arsenic is coming from and why. I am very pleased to see that İzmir is undertaking that kind of work."
Japanese scientist Dr. Kazuharu Yoshizuka of the Kitakyushu University chemical engineering department said İzmir water was cleaner than water in Japan.
"There is almost 10 times as much arsenic in Japan’s geothermal waters than in İzmir," said Yoshizuka. "We try to change the way the water is flowing to reduce the arsenic levels and try to make the water as clean as İzmir’s water."
He added, "More than 200,000 people are using water with arsenic levels higher than the standards set by the European Union in my country."
Paul Sylvester from the U.S.-based Solmetex said the problem could also be seen in the United States.
"In some parts of the United States, especially in the Northeast and the Southeast, there are 400 to 500 micrograms of arsenic per liter, which is way higher than İzmir’s levels," said Sylvester. "Some states were given five years to move their levels to within EU standards but it can be very expensive."
Turkish scientist Cafer Yavuz, who is working at Rice University in the United States, also praised İzmir, adding that he drank the water in the city. "There is no problem health here," said Yavuz. "I drank İzmir’s water, too."