A technical study visit on underground dams was organized on 21-23 July 2026 for officials from the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), affiliated with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation of Jordan, under the coordination of the Turkish Water Institute (SUEN), in cooperation with the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) and with the support of the Ankara Water and Sewerage Administration (ASKİ).
The technical study program was carried out within the scope of the project, "Technical Advisory on Underground Dam Feasibility Studies in Jordan", implemented by SUEN. The program aimed to enhance the technical capacity for the underground dam projects planned in Jordan while sharing Türkiye's knowledge, expertise, and practical experience in the fields of underground dams and managed aquifer recharge.
On the first day of the program, technical presentations were delivered at the Department of Dams and Hydropower Plants of the DSİ and the DSİ 5th Regional Directorate (Ankara). The presentations covered the planning, design, engineering, construction and operation processes of underground dams and managed aquifer recharge applications implemented in Türkiye. Participants were also introduced to practical experiences and lessons learned through various case studies.
As part of the technical program, the delegation visited the Elmadağ Kargalı Underground Dam and the Kalecik Malıboğazı Underground Dam, both in Ankara, where on-site technical observations were conducted. During the field visits, participants received detailed information from experts regarding the technical specifications, operational principles and implementation practices of the facilities.
The program continued with technical visits to the Bahçecik Underground Dam in Bartın and the Yenidoğan Storage Facility in Tosya, both under the responsibility of the DSİ 23rd Regional Directorate (Kastamonu). During these site visits, discussions focused on groundwater management, the operation of storage structures and engineering solutions developed under different hydrogeological conditions.
Through this technical study visit, the technical delegation from the Jordan Valley Authority had the opportunity to examine Türkiye's experience in underground dams and managed aquifer recharge applications firsthand. The program contributed to strengthening the technical cooperation between Türkiye and Jordan in the field of water resources management.