Turkey, Greece, and Georgia will continue their efforts to raise awareness of pollution and carry out remediation work, specifically regarding the Sakarya, Meriç, and Supsa rivers.
The launch event for the PURE RIVERS project—which was initiated as part of efforts to raise awareness of river pollution and carry out remediation work, with the aim of assessing and reducing pollution in target rivers in the Black Sea Basin while also improving ecosystem health—was hosted by Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa.
Under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program, the project—which began on February 28, 2026—will bring together partner organizations from Turkey, Greece, and Georgia to work collaboratively.
PURE RIVERS Has Officially Begun
The PURE RIVERS – Pollution Awareness and Remediation Efforts for Rivers Project (Project ID: BSB01319), supported under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program, has officially begun with working meetings that brought stakeholders together.
To truly understand the PURE RIVERS project, we must first ask this question: What do we see when we look at the rivers flowing into the Black Sea? What we see is this: Pollution is no longer just an environmental problem—it is a health problem, an economic problem, and a problem concerning the legacy we will leave for future generations. The rivers of the Black Sea Basin are under serious environmental pressure due to pollution and habitat degradation. Unfortunately, environmental pollution today knows no borders.
This is precisely why this project stands out not merely as a scientific study, but as an undertaking of cross-border responsibility.
Three Countries, Three Rivers, Four Different Institutions
The PURERIVERS Project brings together three countries, three rivers, and four different institutions.
The Sakarya, Meriç (Evros), and Supsa rivers will be studied as part of the project, and the following four institutions from the three countries will carry out the research:
Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa (Project Leader, Turkey), Sakarya Governor’s Office (Turkey), Democritus University of Thrace (Greece), and Lanchkhuti Municipality (Georgia)
The 30-month project will be carried out in four areas
Within the scope of the 30-month project, work will be carried out in four key areas:
1. Pollution Identification and Monitoring: Sources and levels of pollution in the target rivers will be identified and monitored using scientific methods.
2. Mitigation Strategies: Feasible, scalable strategies to reduce pollution will be developed and implemented.
3. Ecosystem Restoration: River ecosystems will be revitalized, and biodiversity will be protected.
4. Knowledge Sharing: New insights gained will be shared with stakeholders, the public, and decision-makers.
The ultimate goal of the Pure Rivers project is to improve water quality, protect river ecosystems, and strengthen green infrastructure to provide long-term benefits to both the environment and society. It is anticipated that the partnerships established, the data collected, and the methodologies developed will continue to guide the watershed even after the project concludes.
Source: https://www.haberreferans.com/haber/175/pure-rivers-projesiresmen-Basladi
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