Announcement of Turkey Expands Sewerage Services in Capital City on December 22, 1989

FOR IMMEDIATF RELEASE World Bank .818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.* Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 90/38 Contact: Fawzi Rihane (202) 473-2675 TURKEY EXPANDS SEWERAGE SERVICES IN CAPITAL CITY WASHINGTON, December 22, 1989 -- About 850,000 people in Ankara, Turkey's capital, will gain access to sewerage services and another 500,000 people will benefit from rehabilitated or replaced sewerage facilities through a project supported by a $173 million World Bank loan. Most people in Ankara have access to piped water, but in many districts they lack satisfactory sewerage services. Also, at present the city does not have sewage-treatment facilities. The project will resolve present and projected sewerage deficiencies and will provide affordable service to low-income groups. It will also protect the environment from untreated sewage. The project includes construction and rehabilitation of sewage-collection and drainage facilities, construction of a sewage-treatment plant and provision of sewerage operational and maintenance equipment. New facilities will halt the discharge of untreated sewage into the Ankara River and its tributaries flowing through Ankara and they will reduce flooding during heavy rainstorms. They will also reduce health hazards and odors. Technical assistance and training will be provided to Ankara's water- supply and sewerage authority, ASKI, to strengthen its capabilities for operation and maintenance of the sewerage, drainage, and sewage-treatment systems. The World Bank loan is for 17 years, including five years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 7.74 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.75 percent on the undisbursed balance. Note: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.