Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş Dam

Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş Dam, located in the Çeşme district of İzmir province, Türkiye, is an important water source. The dam, together with the Alaçatı Regulator and transmission line, was constructed to meet the region’s drinking and utility water needs. The dam supplies a significant portion of Çeşme’s drinking water and is managed by the İzmir Water and Sewerage Administration (İZSU).

^{Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş Dam -} İZSU

• Maximum Reservoir Water Level: 19.80 metres
• Total Water Volume: 16,500,000 m³
• Usable Water Volume: 16,000,000 m³
• Active Fill Rate (as of 2025): 18.36%.

In recent years, the dam has faced drought risks due to declining water levels. The fill rate, which was 44.94% in 2024, dropped to 20.76% in 2025.

To preserve the water quality of Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş Dam, a Watershed Protection Plan has been developed with the aim of minimizing impacts on the dam’s ecosystem. Under this plan:

• Absolute, short-term, medium-term and long-term protection zones have been defined.
• Good agricultural practices are encouraged in agricultural activities.
• Establishment of industrial facilities, hydroelectric power plants, geothermal plants and organized industrial zones within the dam watershed is prohibited.
• Special regulations are enforced to prevent animal waste from harming the environment.

Water drawn from the dam is treated and distributed through the Çeşme Drinking Water Treatment Plant. The treatment plant’s capacity is:

• Normal flow rate: 300 litres per second
• Maximum flow rate: 360 litres per second

During the treatment process, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and chlorination are applied to improve water quality. The treated water is distributed to Çeşme district in compliance with the TS 266 drinking water quality standard.

In recent years, significant declines in reservoir levels have been observed across İzmir due to drought. As of 2025, the water level at the dam has approached critical levels. Experts warn that without sufficient rainfall, the dam’s fill rate is expected to decline further.

Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş Dam is one of the critical infrastructure facilities supplying drinking water to İzmir and Çeşme. However, rising water consumption, climate change and decreasing precipitation are causing water levels to drop. Therefore, the importance of sustainable water management and conservation policies grows with each passing day.