COP31: Turkey's experience in smart card water metering studied
2026-11-12 10:00:00 / News
In particular, accompanied by representatives of the State Hydraulic Works of Turkey (DSI), the delegation visited the Naras Dam and its associated irrigation system, located in the Manavgat district of Antalya Province, to observe their operations.
Constructed using roller-compacted concrete (RCC) technology, the dam protects the area from floods while enabling gravity-fed irrigation for 7,100 hectares of land. Specifically, 5,600 hectares previously irrigated via pump stations are being converted to a gravity-flow system, significantly reducing electricity consumption in water delivery.
Notably, in this system, water is delivered to farmers through closed pressurized pipeline networks, and water consumption is automatically monitored and metered via smart cards and electronic meters.
Farmers prepay for water and receive it through hydrants installed in the fields. Touching the smart card to the meter initiates the water supply process, and the volume of water used is recorded electronically.
The delegation of Uzbekistan visited greenhouse farms using this technology and observed the operation of the system firsthand.
According to DSI representatives, the share of pressurized piped irrigation networks in Turkey has increased from 6 percent in the early 2000s to 35 percent today. In new projects, this figure reaches up to 95 percent.
Such networks are being constructed through the state budget and international loans secured by the government.
During the visit, the delegation also toured the production facilities of Öncel Group, a major fruit-producing company in Antalya, and held talks with its management.
Prospects for applying this Turkish experience in Uzbekistan will be explored, specifically introducing closed-pipe irrigation and smart-card water metering technologies as a pilot project integrated with the "Suv hisobi" (Water Accounting) information system.
This approach will help reduce water losses during delivery to farmers' fields, keep track of every cubic meter of water, enhance transparency in water use, and conserve resources.
Press Service of the Ministry of Water Resources