Project spotlight: A more modern, resilient water system takes shape in Bursa, Türkiye

Once the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and long a crossroads of trade and textile innovation, Bursa today stands as one of Türkiye’s fastest-growing industrial cities. But its economic momentum has collided with the stark reality of a deepening water crisis.

With dams operating at just 12% capacity and groundwater reserves rapidly declining, the city was days away from critical shortages for its 2 million residents. Industrial and agricultural pressures, aging infrastructure, and changing weather patterns has pushed Bursa’s water system to the brink.

Now, with $5 million in catalytic capital from CIF’s Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and $70 million in co-financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the city is building a smarter, more resilient water management system. The project includes:

• A 68-kilometer transmission line and a new drinking water treatment plant capable of serving 2.4 million people through 2060.
• Bringing a third dam into active use, doubling available storage capacity and reducing reliance on groundwater wells, some of which have already collapsed due to falling water tables. 

CIF’s Clean Energy Lead, Daniel Morris , visited the project site last year and noted that CTF funding is supporting the development of new water infrastructure to reduce Bursa’s heavy dependence on groundwater and energy intensive water treatment. 

The investment, he says, will help replace “the current system that is heavily reliant on groundwater and water treatment, which uses a lot of electricity.  So they're using a passive system that requires little to no electricity to move water from high elevations to lower elevations and eventually bring it here to this water treatment plant.”  The purified water is then sent on to households and industry across Bursa. 

The new infrastructure is designed for long-term resilience. Pressure-sensitive pipe networks will reduce water loss in high-elevation zones. A Biodiversity Action Plan is in place to limit impacts on forests and protected wetlands. And treated water will reach households and industrial zones, reducing pressure on the city’s overstressed aquifers.

“This investment shows how climate-smart infrastructure can both safeguard vital resources and set Bursa on a greener, more resilient development path. By strengthening water security, the city is also strengthening its future.”  said Idil Gursel, Turkiye and Mongolia Regional Head for Infrastructure at EBRD.  

The project is expected to prevent over 2.1 million tons of CO₂ emissions by shifting away from energy-intensive groundwater pumping. It also builds local capacity for quality monitoring and system optimization, setting a precedent for other cities navigating climate and water stress. With the support of CIF and partners, Bursa is demonstrating what smart, integrated water planning looks like. The project also catalyzed Bursa’s entry into the EBRD Green Cities Program, positioning the city for deeper, longer-term transformation.