This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
+2 More
The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) is a public legal entity with a special budget, headquartered in Ankara, responsible for the planning, management, development, and operation of all water resources in Türkiye. Since 15 July 2018, it has been operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Akköprü Dam and HES (DSİ)
The institution’s mission is defined as making the country’s water and land resources available for use in accordance with science and technology, while promoting environmental awareness and sustainability. Its vision is to be a leading institution in the conservation, development, and management of water resources.
During the Ottoman period, water infrastructure construction was carried out by foundations, which limited large-scale dam and irrigation projects. After the proclamation of the Republic, the Umur-ı Nafia Müdüriyet-i Umumiyesi was established in 1914 through the reorganization of the Ministry of Public Works, assuming primary responsibilities such as irrigation, drainage, flood protection, and water distribution.
In 1925, the Sular Fen Heyeti Müdürlüğü was created, and water directorates were opened in Bursa, Adana, Ankara, Edirne, and İzmir. However, due to insufficient funding and drought, expected results were not achieved. The Law on Waters, enacted in 1926, increased the importance of water management, especially in light of the severe droughts between 1926 and 1928. Subsequently, in 1929, the Sular Umum Müdürlüğü was established, prioritizing flood protection, marsh drainage, and irrigation projects. Projects such as the reclamation of the Bursa Plain and the drainage of the Tarsus Aynaz marsh were implemented.
Construction of Çubuk-1 Dam (DSİ)
In 1937, the institution’s name was changed to Su İşleri Reisliği, accelerating dam and irrigation projects. In 1939, it was attached to the Ministry of Public Works, and its mandate expanded with the Law on Protection Against Floods and Water Inundations enacted in 1943 and the Law on the Drainage of Marshes enacted in 1950, laying important groundwork for the eventual establishment of DSİ.
The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works was formally established by Law No. 6200, adopted on 18 December 1953 and enacted on 28 February 1954, organized as a legal entity with a supplementary budget under the Ministry of Public Works. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation served as a model during its formation, and DSİ engineers benefited from its knowledge and experience. The first regional directorates were established in Adana, Bursa, Samsun, İzmir, and Antalya, with a total of 12 regional directorates and 26 branch chief engineer offices becoming operational. The first Director General of DSİ was Hikmet Turat, followed by Süleyman Demirel.
Foundation Ceremony of Suat Uğurlu Dam (DSİ)
With Law No. 7478 enacted in 1960, rural drinking water services were transferred to the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, but this responsibility was transferred to the Ministry of Village Affairs in 1964. Subsequently, Law No. 1053, enacted in 1968, assigned DSİ the responsibility for supplying drinking and industrial water to Ankara, Istanbul, and cities with populations exceeding 100,000. From the 1970s onward, DSİ assumed planning and implementation roles in large-scale projects aligned with Türkiye’s development goals, such as the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), making significant contributions in irrigation, energy production, and regional development.
Foundation Ceremony of Atatürk Dam (DSİ)
Post-1980 Era
In 1981, the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) was established, leading to the transfer of water and sewerage services in major cities to municipalities. In 1986, with World Bank-supported projects, the operation and maintenance responsibilities of irrigation facilities began to be transferred to irrigation associations, promoting a participatory local governance model. During the 1990s, the “build-operate-transfer” model increased the private sector’s role in energy investments, pushing public projects to a secondary position.
Inauguration of Seyhan Dam (DSİ)
In 2003, Law No. 5018 on Public Financial Management and Control brought DSİ’s financial system under the general budget, resulting in a major structural change. In 2007, Law No. 5625 removed the population criterion, extending DSİ’s responsibility to include drinking and industrial water supply for all settlements with municipal organizations. In 2011, DSİ was attached to the newly established Ministry of Forest and Water Affairs, and in 2018, by Presidential Decree, it was defined as a special budget institution under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Water Pipe Ceremony (DSİ)
DSİ has a three-tiered organizational structure:
As its overseas structure, a temporary project directorate operates in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
DSİ General Directors (DSİ)
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry: İbrahim Yumaklı
Deputy Minister: Ebubekir Gizligider
DSİ General Director: Mehmet Akif Balta
Deputy General Directors:
Mehmet Akif Balta, born in 1975 in Trabzon, completed his primary education at Akçaabat Central Primary School and his secondary and high school education at Akçaabat Imam Hatip High School. He graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Karadeniz Technical University in 1997 and worked briefly in the private sector before completing his compulsory military service in Erzurum in 1999.
Mehmet Akif Balta (DSİ)
Balta began his career at DSİ on 18 July 2000 as an engineer at the Çoruh Projects 26th Regional Directorate. From 2000 onward, he held various positions within the institution, including engineer, branch manager, deputy regional director, and regional director. On 29 July 2021, he was appointed Deputy General Director of DSİ and has been serving as DSİ General Director since 2022.
DSİ Regional Map (DSİ)
DSİ’s duties are defined by law:
Kırkgözler Drainage Works (Antalya – 1958) (DSİ)
In its early years, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works employed a total of 213 technical staff. By 1968, the number of engineers had risen to 2,006 and technical personnel to 1,417, significantly expanding the institution’s technical capacity. In 2005, total personnel numbered 27,900; by the end of 2012, this number had decreased to 19,387, representing a reduction of approximately 30 percent. 【1】
In 2018, Law No. 696 granted contractual status to additional personnel, leading to a renewed increase in staffing. Over the years, DSİ has functioned as an “institutional school” in engineering, sending its staff abroad to gain technical knowledge and experience.
In addition to its work on water resource management and development, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works produces various publications to support scientific and technical knowledge generation. These publications serve as guides for engineers and specialists within the institution and contribute to public and academic understanding of water management.
DSİ Technical Bulletins are a key publication featuring peer-reviewed technical papers on fundamental and applied engineering topics related to water. Submissions are first reviewed by subject experts and then evaluated by the Review Board for publication. All or most of these papers must not have been previously published elsewhere. Since September 2016, the DSİ Technical Bulletin has been indexed by the international database provider EBSCO, integrating it into the global academic network.
Additionally, Su Dünyası Magazine is a publication that informs the public about current developments, projects, and research in water resources and management.
Cartographic Statistical Bulletins present data on DSİ’s projects and water resources in visual and statistical formats.
One of the institution’s most important reference books is the Guide to Water Resource Planning. Originally prepared in 1958 as “Instructions for Determining Project Principles,” it was updated by the Directorate of Studies, Planning, and Allocation to produce this guide. The Guide to Water Resource Planning serves as a foundational reference for engineers involved in planning and outlines fundamental principles for the effective and sustainable management of water resources.
The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works initiated activities to provide its employees and their families with opportunities for sports, laying the foundation for the establishment of the Ankara DSİ Youth and Sports Club Association. A decision made at a small meeting provided not only DSİ staff and their families but also children and relatives of employees in surrounding institutions with opportunities for sports and social activities. This promoted the productive use of leisure time, the development of physical, intellectual, and moral capacities, and the emergence of a distinct DSİ spirit. The Ankara DSİ Youth and Sports Club Association was officially established in 1960 and, despite limited resources, rapidly grew to 700 members.
Since its founding in 1960, the Ankara DSİ Sports Club has continuously gained new athletes and continues to uphold the DSİ spirit. DSİ Sports supports the physical, intellectual, and moral development of employees, their families, and the surrounding community by providing opportunities for sports and social activities, strengthening solidarity based on ethical and human values.
Female Athletes of DSİ Sports Club (DSİ Sports)
The State Hydraulic Works Foundation commenced operations on 29 January 2004 with an initial capital of 70,000,000 TL, allocated by its founding members in accordance with the Turkish Civil Code. The Foundation Charter was registered with the General Directorate of Foundations through the notarial act of Ankara Notary No. 37 dated 6 April 2004 and the decision of the 23rd Civil Court of First Instance. The foundation’s official name is “State Hydraulic Works Foundation”, with the short name “DSİ Foundation”. Its headquarters are in Ankara, and it may open branches in other locations with the approval of the General Directorate of Foundations.
Foundation Logo (DSİ Foundation)
The Foundation Charter consists of 171 articles. Based on these provisions, various regulations have been prepared:
The foundation operates according to three primary objectives:
The foundation’s income consists of donations, returns from capital investments, revenues from social and cultural activities, income from movable and immovable property, revenues from facilities operated directly or through participation, publication sales, revenues from camps and social facilities, and other miscellaneous sources.
The Board of Trustees is the highest body of the foundation and consists of 208 members. Its responsibilities include electing members of the Management and Supervisory Boards, approving activity reports and budgets, deciding on facility establishment, and managing charter amendments and dissolution. The Board of Trustees convenes at least once a year.
The Management Board consists of nine full members and nine alternate members elected by the Board of Trustees. The Chair is selected from among the members and serves as the foundation’s president for a one-year term. Its responsibilities include managing foundation affairs, preparing budgets and accounts, appointing and dismissing personnel, and drafting bylaws and regulations.
The Supervisory Board consists of a president and four members elected by the Board of Trustees, along with five alternate members. It regularly audits the foundation’s accounts and operations and submits reports to the Management Board every four months and to the Board of Trustees at year-end.
The Foundation Directorate consists of the Foundation Director appointed by the Management Board and administrative staff. The duties, authorities, and responsibilities of personnel are defined by regulation. The Foundation Director is accountable to the Management Board and operates in accordance with its decisions.
[1]
Hüsniye Akıllı, "Devlet Su İşleri," Atatürk Ansiklopedisi, 26 Ocak 2023, erişim 16 Aralık 2025, https://ataturkansiklopedisi.gov.tr/detay/963/Devlet_Su_%C4%B0%C5%9Fleri.
No Discussion Added Yet
Start discussion for "General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works" article
Historical Development
Ottoman Period and Early Republic Years
Establishment of DSİ
1960–1980 Period
Organizational Structure
Management
General Director
Regions
Missions and Authorities
Personnel and Institutional Memory
Publications
DSİ Youth and Sports Club Association
Current Status
State Hydraulic Works Foundation
Foundation Charter and Regulations
Objectives
Income Sources
Foundation Bodies
