Announcement of Turkey to Expand Water Supply Services and Sewage Treatment Facilities on December 3, 1987

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 88/24 Contact: Fawzi Rihane (202) 473 2675 TURKEY TO EXPAND WATER SUPPLY SERVICES AND SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES Project has pollution control features WASHINGTON, December 3 -- Turkey will improve water supply services and expand sewerage facilities in Istanbul through a project supported by a loan of $218 million from the World Bank. The project, to be carried out during 1987-94, will serve Turkey's largest metropolitan area. It will help the Istanbul Water Supply and Sewerage General Directorate (ISKI) to reduce water shortages, continue its pollution control in the Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara, and operate its systems more efficiently. The project includes rehabilitation of water distribution facilities, and construction of sewerage facilities needed to keep pace with Istanbul's growth and to provide for safe disposal of its wastewater. Approximately 2.3 million residents of Istanbul are expected to benefit directly. The sewerage components of the project will bring major environmental improvements. The water components will eliminate water shortages now affecting 18% of the population. The $570 million project includes the installation of a telemetered and computerized system for water supply monitoring and control; the rehabilitation of a part of the water distribution network; and the construction of sewage collection, treatment, and disposal facilities for five drainage zones of the city. It also includes the installation of 330,000 sewage connections, and will provide training in operations, maintenance, and industrial waste management. Vehicles and equipment for the detection and repair of leaks will be purchased. A previous $88.1 million World Bank loan, approved in 1982, is helping the Municipality of Istanbul increase sewerage connections, reduce pollution in the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara and eliminate it in the Golden Horn. The World Bank loan is for 17 years, including four years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 7.76 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.75 percent on the undisbursed balances. Note: Money figures are in US dollar equivalents