Source: Reuters | September 4, 2026
Turkey is strengthening its efforts to protect the Marmara Sea through a new cooperation agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with the first phase focusing on wastewater treatment and environmental infrastructure.
According to a Reuters report published on September 4, 2026, Turkey and AIIB signed a cooperation agreement covering environmental projects, climate change initiatives and urban infrastructure. The first phase will focus on environmental projects in the Marmara region, supported by approximately €400 million (US$465 million) in investment. The funding will primarily support the development of advanced biological wastewater treatment facilities.
€400 Million Investment Focuses on Wastewater Treatment
Turkey’s Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum said the initial investment will focus on projects designed to improve the environmental condition of the Marmara Sea.
A major component of the investment is the development and expansion of advanced biological wastewater treatment facilities. The initiative is part of Turkey’s broader efforts to increase wastewater treatment capacity and strengthen environmental infrastructure in the highly industrialized Marmara region.
The agreement was signed during the Climate Finance Summit in Istanbul, ahead of the COP31 United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled for November. AIIB Vice President Ajay Bhushan Pandey also highlighted Turkey’s importance as one of the bank’s major investment destinations.
Protecting the Marmara Sea Through Better Wastewater Management
The Marmara Sea is surrounded by one of Turkey’s most densely populated and industrialized regions. Environmental pressure on the region has increased over the years, including episodes of marine mucilage, commonly known as “sea snot.”
These events have raised concerns about marine ecosystems, water quality and the sustainability of economic activities such as fishing.
Expanding wastewater treatment capacity can help reduce the environmental burden on the marine environment. Modern treatment facilities also require continuous monitoring of key operating parameters to maintain stable and efficient treatment processes.
Measurement Plays an Important Role in Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater treatment plants involve complex systems of pumps, pipelines, filtration equipment, biological treatment units, settling tanks and water storage facilities.
Accurate measurement of process parameters is therefore essential for reliable operation.
Pressure Measurement
Pressure transmitters can monitor pressure in pipelines, pumping systems and filtration equipment. Continuous pressure monitoring can help operators identify abnormal operating conditions, potential blockages and equipment problems.
Flow Measurement
Flow meters provide real-time information about wastewater entering and leaving different treatment stages. Flow data can help operators monitor treatment capacity, optimize pumping systems and maintain stable process conditions.
Level Measurement
Level transmitters and level switches are widely used in wastewater tanks, equalization basins, settling tanks and storage reservoirs. Accurate level monitoring helps prevent overflow, pump dry-running and other operational problems.
Temperature Measurement
Temperature is another important parameter in wastewater treatment, particularly in biological treatment processes. Monitoring water and process temperatures can provide useful information for maintaining appropriate treatment conditions.
Growing Demand for Water and Environmental Infrastructure
The Turkey-AIIB agreement highlights the increasing importance of investment in water treatment and environmental infrastructure.
For municipalities and industrial regions, wastewater treatment is becoming an increasingly important part of environmental protection and sustainable infrastructure development.
As treatment plants become larger and more sophisticated, reliable instrumentation will be needed to monitor the entire process — from wastewater collection and pumping to biological treatment, filtration and final discharge.
ELECALL Measurement Solutions for Water and Wastewater Applications
ELECALL provides industrial measurement solutions for a wide range of water and wastewater applications, including pressure, flow, level and temperature measurement.
Our products can support applications such as:
- Municipal wastewater treatment plants
- Industrial wastewater treatment
- Water pumping stations
- Water storage tanks
- Filtration and purification systems
- Biological treatment facilities
- Environmental monitoring systems
- Industrial water management
Reliable measurement provides operators with the real-time data needed to monitor process conditions, improve equipment reliability and support more efficient water management.
As Turkey and other regions continue investing in advanced wastewater treatment and environmental infrastructure, accurate pressure, flow, level and temperature measurement will remain an important part of modern water treatment systems.
Source
Reuters — “Turkey, AIIB sign cooperation deal, first focus on marine cleaning, minister says”
Published: September 4, 2026
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