Question 1

Can obliged parties apply directly for the Green or Turquoise certificate?

Accepted Answer

No. Parties obliged under the Regulation must first establish a water efficiency system within the set deadlines and apply for the Blue Water Efficiency Certificate. The Green Certificate application follows receipt of the Blue Certificate. The Turquoise Certificate, on a voluntary basis, can be obtained after the Green Certificate.

Question 2

Can non-obliged parties obtain a certificate?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Voluntary applicants may also establish a water efficiency system and obtain a certificate. There is no priority order for voluntary applications; after obtaining the Blue Certificate, one may apply for the Green or Turquoise Certificate. Guides are available via suverimliligi.gov.tr.

Question 3

What documents and format must be submitted with the application?

Accepted Answer

Applications are accepted only through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Water Efficiency Information System (SVBS). The Application Form, Current Status Data Form and supporting official documents for the relevant sector and obliged class are submitted digitally in line with the Ministry's current application set and the system's technical guidance. New applications submitted by hand, post, fax or e-mail are not accepted for evaluation.

Question 4

Will there be guidance for system setup?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Ministry has published separate "Water Efficiency System Setup and Blue Water Efficiency Certificate Application Guides" for urban, industrial and agricultural sectors at suverimliligi.gov.tr/Sayfa/Detay/2196.

Question 5

Is the water efficiency information system active?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Water Efficiency Information System (SVBS) is operational. New certificate applications are made only through SVBS at https://csys.tarimorman.gov.tr/; new applications submitted outside the system are not evaluated.

Question 6

How should "sufficient number of personnel" be interpreted?

Accepted Answer

The water efficiency team consists of three elements: (1) Team leader – at most one person. (2) Training officer – at least one person. (3) Support staff – a number of technical staff appropriate to the size of the institution.

Question 7

How is the system set up in structures with multiple obliged parties?

Accepted Answer

Institutions and organisations falling under different obliged classes must each apply for a separate certificate even if located on the same premises. For industrial activities, the physical and operational integration of production at the same premises is assessed: independent facilities apply separately, while integrated production that meets the criteria for water, wastewater, raw materials and personnel may be assessed under a common system and a single application.

Question 8

What are the procedures and principles for water efficiency training?

Accepted Answer

The procedures and principles for water efficiency training are explained in the relevant System Setup Guides. Data submitted at the time of application must relate to the calendar year preceding the application date.

Question 9

What are non-conventional water sources?

Accepted Answer

Waters other than groundwater and surface freshwater sources are considered non-conventional: rainwater, greywater, treated wastewater, agricultural return flow, brackish water and seawater. These sources may be used after appropriate pretreatment suited to the intended use.

Question 10

What approach is followed for the use of rainwater and greywater?

Accepted Answer

Installing rainwater and greywater systems is among the Green Certificate criteria for OIZs, industrial/free zones, airports, accommodated tourism facilities and university campuses. Rainwater harvesting in buildings is assessed under Article 57 of the Zoning Regulation for Planned Areas. The greywater reuse criterion applies to areas newly designed as of the publication date of the Water Efficiency Regulation. Rainwater harvesting is assessed under the relevant provisions of the Zoning Regulation for Planned Areas.

Question 11

How is responsibility determined for building/facility management?

Accepted Answer

Responsibility for establishing the water efficiency system rests with the management of the building/facility/campus/premises itself. In institutions and organisations with multiple units, senior management coordinates the responsibility.

Question 12

What happens if a public institution has more than one building?

Accepted Answer

A separate water efficiency system is established and a separate certificate application is made for each building/facility/campus. A single certificate may be issued for structures operated under joint management within the same physical premises.

Question 13

What is the scope of public institutions and organisations?

Accepted Answer

Public institutions and organisations listed in the Guide with 50 or more employees fall within the relevant obliged class. Educational institutions, dormitories and health institutions are assessed separately under their own specific criteria.

Question 14

Which airports are obliged?

Accepted Answer

Civil airports handling commercial passenger transport are mandatorily obliged for both the Blue and Green certificates. Military and private airports may apply voluntarily.

Question 15

What are the obligation qualifications for business centres and commercial plazas?

Accepted Answer

Obliged business centres and commercial plazas under the Regulation are structures registered as business or trade premises in the land registry, with a plot area exceeding 1,000 m², and with common-use areas such as food and beverage, entertainment, toilet and hygiene areas. In structures where more than one obliged party operates, joint management establishes the water efficiency system and makes the certificate application. Structures with multiple obliged parties but no joint management are not automatically assessed in this class. Those meeting the Guide's qualifications with a plot area of 1,000 m² or less may apply voluntarily.

Question 16

What are the obligation qualifications for shopping centres?

Accepted Answer

All shopping centres within the scope of the Regulation on Shopping Centres are obliged. Small commercial centres not meeting the Regulation's shopping-centre definition are out of scope.

Question 17

Which educational institutions and dormitories are obliged?

Accepted Answer

Relevant educational institutions, universities and dormitories with 400 or more students are assessed against the Blue Certificate conditions. Universities not located within a campus apply only for the Blue Certificate. Universities meeting the campus qualification defined in the Ministry's current FAQ must apply for the Green Certificate within a maximum of 5 years after the Blue Certificate.

Question 18

Which health institutions are obliged?

Accepted Answer

Public, university and private hospitals providing inpatient treatment with 100 or more beds, defined as secondary or tertiary healthcare providers under the relevant health legislation, and integrated health campuses, fall within the relevant obligation scope. Those with fewer than 100 beds are assessed under the voluntary application conditions.

Question 19

Which accommodated tourism enterprises are obliged?

Accepted Answer

Accommodated tourism enterprises with 100 or more rooms, holding a Tourism Establishment Certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and meeting the "tourism facility" definition in the Tourism Facilities Implementation Regulation, are obliged for the Blue Certificate. This covers four- and five-star hotels and four- and five-star holiday villages. Suitable facilities with 250 rooms or more must apply for the Green Certificate within a maximum of 5 years after obtaining the Blue Certificate; those with fewer than 250 rooms may apply voluntarily for the Green and Turquoise Certificates.

Question 20

What are the obligation qualifications for train and bus terminals?

Accepted Answer

Terminals located in provincial centres and meeting the qualifications listed in the Guide are obliged. Those in districts and towns may apply voluntarily.

Question 21

How is responsibility shared between the municipality and the SKİ in metropolitan areas?

Accepted Answer

The metropolitan municipality and the SKİ are assessed as separate obliged classes; each makes its own application separately. Both institutions must independently establish a water efficiency system and obtain a certificate.

Question 22

What path will metropolitan municipalities, SKİs, provincial and district municipalities follow?

Accepted Answer

The 18-month system setup transition period for metropolitan municipalities and SKİs ended on 27 June 2026. For provincial municipalities outside metropolitan areas the 21-month period corresponds to 27 September 2026, and for district municipalities outside metropolitan areas with a population over 50,000 the 24-month period corresponds to 27 December 2026. Districts outside metropolitan areas with a population of 50,000 or less may apply voluntarily.

Question 23

How does the green and turquoise certification process work for metropolitan areas?

Accepted Answer

The Green Certificate application is made within the period set by the Regulation following the Blue Certificate. Green Certificate criteria for the urban sector are set out in Annex-4 Table 1. The Turquoise Certificate can be obtained voluntarily under the Annex-5 Table 1 criteria.

Question 24

If the NACE code definition changes, how is the obligation determined?

Accepted Answer

The current Annex-1 list of the Industrial Activities Water Efficiency System Setup Guide is used to determine industrial obligation. Obligation requires both that the activity has "OBLIGED" status in Annex-1 and that the employee count exceeds 49, i.e., is 50 or more. If there is a discrepancy between actual production and official records, the records must be brought into line with the production activities.

Question 25

Is there an obligation for facilities under Annex-2 with fewer than 50 employees?

Accepted Answer

If an activity is listed as "OBLIGED" in the current Annex-1 Guide but the employee count is below 50, no mandatory certification obligation arises; the enterprise may apply voluntarily. For activities listed as "VOLUNTARY" in Annex-1, the employee count condition does not apply. NACE activities not listed in Annex-1 are out of scope for the industrial enterprise class.

Question 26

What approach is followed if the same applicant has more than one facility?

Accepted Answer

Each production facility is assessed for its current Annex-1 NACE status, employee count, physical location and operational integration. Obliged facilities at different locations each require a separate system and application. Independent facilities at the same premises apply separately, while production units integrated in terms of water, wastewater, raw materials and personnel may be assessed under a common system and single application within the conditions set by the Guide.

Question 27

Is the official NACE code or the actual activity NACE code taken as the basis?

Accepted Answer

The obligation assessment considers the current Annex-1 NACE status of the production carried out as the final product at the facility and the production activities registered in official documents. If actual production and official records are inconsistent, the records must be brought into line with the production activities.

Question 28

Are facilities not listed in Annex-2 but located within an OIZ obliged?

Accepted Answer

No. An industrial enterprise's mere location within an OIZ, free zone or industrial zone does not create an individual certificate obligation. For an enterprise's individual obligation to arise, it must carry out a production activity with OBLIGED status under the current Annex-1 Guide and have 50 or more employees. The zone administration's own certificate obligation is separate.

Question 29

If only one facility under the same trade name falls within scope, do the others also fall within scope?

Accepted Answer

No. Each facility is assessed independently based on its own NACE code and employee count. One facility under a given trade name may fall within scope while others may not.

Question 30

How do obliged facilities within an OIZ/free zone/industrial zone carry out the process?

Accepted Answer

Industrial enterprises within an industrial zone that have OBLIGED status under the current Annex-1 Guide and meet the 50+ employee condition carry out their own industrial enterprise applications individually. The OIZ, free zone or industrial zone administration, for its own area of responsibility, establishes a separate system and makes a separate application distinct from the industrial zone class.

Question 31

Who applies for industrial facilities located within an airport?

Accepted Answer

Industrial enterprises within an airport that have OBLIGED status under the current Annex-1 Guide and meet the 50+ employee condition apply individually under the industrial activities category. The airport administration separately applies under its own obligation in the buildings and campuses category.

Question 32

What happens if the main activity is outside Annex-2 but intermediate products fall within Annex-2 scope?

Accepted Answer

The obligation definition considers the NACE codes of the production areas that are manufactured as the final product at the facility and registered in official documents. If the final production is not obliged under Annex-1 of the Guide, the fact that intermediate or by-products required solely for the final production are manufactured under Annex-1 codes does not, on its own, create an industrial certificate obligation.

Question 33

How is an irrigated area of 500 hectares or more determined?

Accepted Answer

The size of an irrigated area of 500 hectares or more is determined based on the Irrigation Map submitted to the authority during the application process. The Irrigation Map is the official document showing the service area of the irrigation facility subject to the application and the boundaries of the irrigated area.

Question 34

How are water efficiency teams formed for agricultural irrigation?

Accepted Answer

Water efficiency teams for irrigation facilities are formed within the general principles. The Ministry guide prepared for the agricultural irrigation sector sets out specific requirements for team structure.

Question 35

How is the "suitable modern pressurised irrigation methods" criterion applied?

Accepted Answer

This criterion applies where the irrigated land has physical infrastructure suitable for pressurised irrigation systems. In irrigation areas where water is conveyed to the field head via closed pipelines, pressurised irrigation systems must be used. The suitable irrigation method is determined taking into account the water source, the properties of the irrigation water, soil, topography, climate and crop characteristics.

Question 36

How is the "production consistent with production planning" criterion applied?

Accepted Answer

It is expected that a crop production plan consistent with the seasonal status of water resources and basin-scale plans is prepared and followed.

Question 37

Does landscape irrigation also fall within scope?

Accepted Answer

Only areas irrigated for agricultural production purposes are assessed under agricultural water efficiency scope; landscape irrigation is not included. Responsibility for irrigation of landscaped areas is assessed under the relevant Local Governments, Buildings and Campuses, or Industrial Zones application classes of Annex-1 of the Regulation.

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Official FAQ – suverimliligi.gov.tr — Water Efficiency Regulation: 37 selected current questions

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