Water Management

Water and Wastewater Management at Türk Telekom

Water plays a critical role in ensuring the sustainability of our operations. As Türk Telekom, we approach water management not only through consumption control but also a holistic approach that includes conservation and recycling processes. Through the steps we have taken to reduce our water consumption, we aim to minimise our environmental impacts and ensure the efficient use of water resources. We regularly monitor water consumption data across all our operational sites. While we operate across the entire country, we are currently implementing water-saving measures at select sites. In the coming years, we aim to expand the scope and impact of these measures to cover more locations. Thus, the total water consumption of the Türk Telekom Group in 2024 was 476 thousand cubic meters.

We set certain annual water-saving targets to carefully manage our water Water and Wastewater Management consumption and carry out operations in accordance with these targets. The water we use in our buildings for the basic needs of our employees is not taken directly from the water source but through the city water networks, and we regularly report our water consumption on an annual basis. Water is necessary for the uninterrupted continuity of our services; hence, we adopt proactive approaches in water management to save on water usage and recycle wastewater. To use water efficiently, we implement environmentally friendly practices such as intelligent irrigation systems, photocell batteries, grey water systems, and rainwater collection units. We also aim to reduce water consumption by reducing the number of water-using locations through building centralisation efforts.

At Türk Telekom, we recognize that access to clean water is a fundamental right for everyone. As emphasized by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, ‘living in a better world, breathing clean air, and accessing clean water are everyone’s rights.’ Guided by this understanding, ensuring that our employees have safe and clean water for both consumption and daily use is among our top priorities. All of our offices and data centers rely on water supplied from the public network, and the generally low risk of water accessibility in Türkiye further supports these efforts. At the same time, we value the initiatives carried out in collaboration with municipalities to protect and sustainably manage water resources, and we strive to be an active part of this shared responsibility. By safeguarding our employees’ access to safe water, we are also committed to contributing to the promotion of sustainable living at a societal level.

Water Stress and Management

The limitation of water resources, along with increasing population and climate change, is becoming an increasingly critical global issue. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), global water demand is expected to rise by 30% by 2050, and Türkiye is among the countries facing high water stress. As part of our environmental sustainability efforts, we closely monitor water usage, implement water efficiency improvements in our infrastructure, and fulfil our responsibility to protect water resources. We aim to ensure the effective and sustainable management of water across our entire value chain and to collaborate with our stakeholders in this area.

Efficient Water Use and Recycling Efforts

A large portion of our water consumption is driven by the daily needs of our employees. Therefore, in order to minimise water consumption, we promote water-efficient technologies such as flow restrictors and sensor-activated taps, while also organising awareness programmes to raise awareness about water consumption among our employees. While reducing water usage by implementing modern infrastructure solutions that support water savings, we focus on using existing water resources in the most effective way.

As of 2024, a total of approximately 56,000 m³ of water was consumed at our facilities under Head Offices. Of this amount, we processed approximately 9,000 m³ of water using the greywater treatment systems installed at our facilities and made it available for reuse. After treating wastewater from sinks and tea kettles in accordance with environmental standards, we directed it to the toilet reservoir filling lines, therefore significantly reduced overall water consumption. We obtain our water needs from local water suppliers, and we adopt a savingsfocused approach by developing solutions that minimise our water usage.

Rainwater Harvesting and Alternative Water Management Solutions

In line with our vision to protect water resources, we not only focus on reducing consumption but also develop projects to increase the use of alternative water sources. In this context, we implemented the “Rainwater Harvesting” project at our logistics centre in Petekkent, Istanbul. At our logistics centre, which is built on an area of 7,150 m² , we harvest rainwater and store it in a 41,500-litre underground water tank. By using the harvested water for recovery purposes such as garden irrigation, reservoir filling, and vehicle washing, we contribute to reducing clean water consumption.

To manage water consumption carefully, we set annual water saving targets and carry out our operations in line with these targets. Instead of sourcing water for our employees’ basic needs directly from natural water sources, we procure it via municipal water networks and report our water consumption regularly on an annual basis. In 2024, the main drivers of the increase in water consumption include the rise in on-site activities as more employees returned to offices, the lower consumption recorded in offices located in earthquake-affected provinces in 2023, and the inclusion of newly opened locations in the year’s total consumption.

Wastewater Management and Environmental Standards

To minimise the environmental impact of wastewater generated through our operations, we carry out wastewater management activities in full compliance with local and national regulations. Wastewater discharge from human use in Türk Telekom buildings is carried out in accordance with the standards set by the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) and local administrations such as İSKİ (Water and Sewerage Administration). Across our facilities, we manage wastewater discharge in line with the standards implemented at central locations, focusing on minimising the environmental impact of wastewater originating from human activity.

Although our company does not engage in largescale direct production and therefore has relatively limited environmental impacts, we are aware of the indirect environmental effects arising from our operational processes and supply chain. To minimise this impact, we work to ensure the recycling of wastewater and to optimise disposal processes in a way that minimises environmental harm.

Through this approach, we continue to manage our water consumption efficiently and promote the sustainable use of water resources. We aim to establish a sustainable water management model by supporting our water management processes with environmentally friendly practices, recycling solutions, and efficiency-focused investments.