CIU Academic Evaluates the Water Crisis

Prof. Dr. Rana Kıdak, a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering at Cyprus International University (CIU), evaluated the deepening global water crisis and the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle. Kıdak stated that climate change, population growth, and unsustainable water use are increasing pressure on water resources.

Emphasizing that rising global temperatures have led to serious irregularities in precipitation patterns, Kıdak said: “As also stated in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has raised the global average temperature by approximately 1.1°C; this has accelerated the hydrological cycle, increased evaporation, and caused significant changes in precipitation regimes.”

Noting that climate change brings both prolonged drought periods and sudden, intense rainfall events, Kıdak drew attention to the flood that occurred in Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on 9 December 2025. She stated, “The fact that the amount of rainfall reached approximately 232 kilograms per square meter clearly demonstrates that climate change–related extreme weather events are increasing at the local level.” She added that such rainfall is lost as surface runoff due to insufficient water storage infrastructure, thereby increasing flood risks.
Kıdak emphasized that while drought and water scarcity are experienced in the TRNC, flood risks caused by sudden rainfall also emerge, and therefore water management must be addressed through a holistic approach that encompasses simultaneous crises. In this context, she highlighted the importance of integrated water resources management.

Within the framework of sustainability practices at CIU, all wastewater generated on campus is treated and reused for irrigation purposes; by re-evaluating approximately 1,300 tons of water annually, an application aimed at conserving water resources has been implemented.