This paper examines the administrative and legal structure of the wast
ewater sector in Turkey, identifying its shortcomings and their causes
, and suggests solutions. The study begins by outlining the existing a
dministrative and legal structure, then focusing on the areas where di
fficulties are faced and seeking solutions to them. Those administrati
ve and legal facets which have produced improvements and/or function e
ffectively have been analysed so as to provide examples for other area
s. When examining the sector it was observed that problems common to e
very area are the failure to adequately define powers and responsibili
ties, the lack of coordination between sectoral organisations, and the
fact that attention is generally concentrated on routine matters of s
econdary importance. The fact that numerous organisations share powers
in the same ar ea causes confusion. Plurality also creates difficulti
es where enforcement is concerned. The existence of more than one set
of regulations relating to the same area gives rise to loopholes. At t
he same time, unrealistic, and hence unenforceable standards undermine
the effectiveness of sanctions. it has been concluded that a single o
rganisation should be invested with the legal powers to lay down the p
rinciples of water management, that environmental courts should be set
up to enforce legislation by means of sanctions; and that for this pu
rpose existing legislation should be reexamined and revised as necessa
ry and/or brought up to date.