Following a dry autumn, winter, and spring, summer heat has intensified the water crisis across Turkey's Konya Plain, driving groundwater levels even lower.

August measurements show a marked decline in water volume compared to previous years, raising alarm over the region's growing vulnerability to desertification.

Beyşehir Lake, Turkey's largest freshwater source, recorded an 8 percent drop in volume from the same period last year, reducing its capacity to just 55 percent. Aquatic vegetation now blankets much of the lake's surface, a sign of deteriorating conditions.

Key drinking water reservoirs in the region are also shrinking. Altınapa Dam saw a 25 percent decrease in volume, while Bağbaşı Dam dropped by 8 percent. Current fill rates are critically low: Apa Dam at 1 percent, Bozkır at 6 percent, Bağbaşı at 16 percent, Altınapa at 8 percent, Çavuşcugöl at 14 percent, and İvriz at 9 percent.

The data underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management and conservation efforts as the region grapples with the dual pressures of climate change and overuse of groundwater.