Turkey: Turkey rations water as cities hit by drought

Turkey's two major cities are grappling with water shortages after record low levels of snow and rain in the winter and searing summer temperatures. Reservoirs are less than 5% full in the capital, Ankara, home to 4 million people, according to the country's water authority. On August 1st, the municipality began a water restriction policy of two days on, two days off.

A project to divert water from a nearby river was launched in March, but the water is not expected to reach the city until November. Authorities were considering delaying the start of the school year until mid-October to avert the spread of disease, according to the mayor, Melih Gokcek. Hospitals were being supplied with ground water carried by tankers.